<p>I was visiting my D’s school this week and was touched to find that she keeps and displays all the cards I stick in the care pkgs. I try to send bright cards with attractive images – flowers, views, etc – helpful with cabin fever now that everything outside is gray, brown or white. I will have to spend more than 30 seconds writing notes now that I know she hangs on to them!</p>
<p>I send a package about once a month to a close friend (his parents don’t really send stuff). The last one had homemade brownies/peanut butter cups, almonds, organic popcorn, fruit leather, power rangers dvd, heat tech shirt from uniqlo(it’s freezing in upstate NY), and a mini nerf gun. I also included a picture of me holding a sign that says “Share or run 10 miles. Your choice.” because he blames me for gaining any weight.</p>
<p>unicorncthulhu - That made me smile! And I think every kid on this board would like to be your friend . . . :)</p>
<p>My parents usually send me Snickers or M&Ms, Oreos, beef jerky (MY FAVORITE!), $20, and a handwritten card. Sometimes they send me things I need, like a baseball mitt or book. It really helps get you out of the monotonous routine of school when you see the big package and just rip it open. Although again, other kids like to “leech” or take things out of your package…</p>
<p>I’m a Twix girl myself, but your packages sound really personalized and thoughtful, GrotonSmart!</p>
<p>Neatoburrito- that is hilarious. We have had similar scenes at this house. Luckily, boys also don’t seem to care about expensive clothes, so we just don’t buy any! My favorite moment was when I lovingly delivered neatly pressed blazer, dress shirt, pants etc for a concert. Kid showed up at the concert wearing someone elses’s clothes! When I asked why his own had never left the hanger…“we were playing snow football and I didn’t have time to get back to the dorm. XXX just lent me his extra set!”</p>
<p>I bought printed labels for my other D for boarding school. They have yet to make it on to any clothing. I give up.</p>
<p>Sounds like the kids at BS are well dressed, even if it’s not the clothes we sent them with.</p>
<p>I don’t know where mine (clothing labels) went as well. They must have gotten lost in a pile of mail. At the time, we had lots of orientation stuff arriving from son’s BS. The whole printed label thing though was helpful last summer for binding us parents’ anxiety though, no,? (at a time we were getting ready to send our kids away).</p>
<p>i remember at camp my friend’s mom would send a huge care package every week filled with various candies, cookies, ramen, mac n cheese, popcorn, and things that she had forgotten at home. it was so nice to see these care packages since often the food was shared with everyone. my other friend received a HUMONGOUS box of junk food along with a teddy bear and a handwritten note from her parents. so sweeet :)</p>
<p>I lost my first batch of labels too–they should put those puppies in a BIG container. 
Labelling helps relieve my Mama anxieties, sort of a pre-sending off ritual…no idea why, as I’m a shake out the wrinkles and put it on type person normally. But my kid does only seem to lose the few things he has that aren’t labeled…unfortunately, minor necessities like textbooks and shoes.</p>
<p>Suggestion: Buy all of yours kids’ things in neon colors. You really can’t lose bright highlighter yellow shoes!</p>
<p>Just sent a big box of girl scout cookies to help the dorm get through winter term exams. YUM.</p>
<p>I also just got a call from the youngest who lost his good boots and a pair of goggles at ski holiday. Had to come home on the bus in his wool socks. I hope that was a learning experience. And no, they were not neon yellow… maybe the next pair will be!!!</p>
<p>bump 10char</p>
<p>LOL…we join the group with the "I have no idea what happened to them’ preprinted labels! I just sent our son a second batch…he thinks they are great…I am sure I won’t ever see a single one actually <em>attached</em> to something. Pictures…interesting…now where did that new item of clothing come from? Did he buy it? Was it from someone else at the dorm? My dorm days of ‘mystery meat’ have been completely replaced by ‘mystery clothing’…</p>
<p>2kidsnoanswers- Just had that experience of seeing DS #1 in a picture wearing something I have never seen before. Turns out it was a borrowed item from kid across the hall.</p>
<p>When I send packages I send candy, cookies or similar, things that were accidentally left at home (always DS #2), gift cards for Five Guys or Starbucks and sometimes DVD’s and such for the weekend.</p>
<p>On birthdays I send Crumbs cupcakes. DS #1 said the cupcakes were great but the best part was the 5 lb block of dry ice that came with the cupcakes! Has already informed me that he would like them again this year.</p>
<p>A 5-lb. block of dry ice definitely sounds even better than cupcakes!!!</p>
<p>@Scotland45, will have to look into Crumbs cupcakes. But I can just see it - a bunch of teen boys playing with a chunk of dry ice. Makes me smile. Guess that is the teen version of the kid who plays with the box the toy came in, instead of the toy!</p>
<p>[BOX-O-BOX</a> - The World’s Greatest College Care Packages!](<a href=“http://www.boxobox.com%5DBOX-O-BOX”>http://www.boxobox.com) - They make care packages, and put great stuff into the boxes. It’s a good idea but it’s quite impersonal, so if your child likes things from home (I know I would!) then maybe it’s not a good option. It’s mainly geared at college student parents but I guess it could work for BS parents too! :)</p>
<p>Oh half the fun is putting something together and stuffing it into a flat rate box. We sent flowers for Valentine’s day but would have rather sent things we had touched, you know? (Although that cupcake thing someone mentioned has me really craving them right now).</p>
<p>Still, that link is great! It’s a great concept for parents who are for some reason unable to create their own care packages. Thanks a bunch for sharing! :)</p>