Creating the ULTIMATE College Care Package

Our youngest, The Boy, is entering his second year in college. He's the third kid that I have gone through the “away at school” process with, so I'm starting to run low on the groovy care package ideas.

I think most of us with multiple children have encountered the trials and tribulations of keeping the momentum alive when it comes to the youngest. My daughters, The Piglet and Decibel, have reaped many benefits from being older, not that they would ever agree that there WERE any benefits.

They, of course, think that we have always dotted on and favored “The Prince” as they call him. They assume that from his first breath he was all that we paid attention to.

However, The Piglet’s “baby book” is impeccable. Ultrasounds, baby shower cards, locks of hair, countless photographs, even hospital records from the time she shoved a whole serving of peas up her nose -- it’s all in there.

And when Decibel came along, we had discovered the camcorder. The video footage of her exploits -- from her first steps to butt-scooting around with a broken leg in a cast are lovingly documented. Big productions that she directed and starred in were never missed. Costumed in feather boas, dozens of necklaces adorning wild dresses and giant shoes she performed grand scenes. All of this was captured on miles of video tape that has now been burned to DVDs.

I'm not even sure The Boy has a baby book. If he does, it’s probably more like a baby pamphlet. Nor can I think of a single photo or video of him as a youngster that doesn't include one or both of his sisters. Hardly the chronicles we would have kept for the favorite, I'd say.

With the prospect of The Boy's sophomore year's first care package upon me, I realized that I had once again lost my edge with The Boy. The excitement I had felt while creating fun care packages for The Piglet and Decibel was gone. I really needed some help. I decided that I should hand it over to the experts. Our scholarly readers.

I figured they could help me create a care package so amazing that it would make up for the fact that The Boy’s baby book is a mere leaflet and that he never made it past “best supporting actor” in our family videos.

#1 Suggested Item -- Homemade Baked Goods

Jan, a reader from our Facebook Page suggested: "How about brownies and ch.chip cookies - NOT out of a box! Nobody gets homemade any more it seems."

Jane, also from Facebook added: "Homemade caramel fudge brownies..."

I am SO not a baker. And brownies? Don't get me started. My only attempts have turned out runny goo or a black brick-

like substance. Jane had inadvertently suggested the impossible. But since we have the smartest and most clever readers, I dove right in.

Because we are purposefully homeless, I borrowed a kitchen (don't ask) and started with Jan's cookies. Easy, really anyone can do cookies. I didn't burn the bottom of a single one! The trick is to actually allow the oven to preheat.

For packing, I put four to a baggy, for busy college student grab-n-go ease.

Believe it or not, the brownies were perfect! Well, until the caramel topping part. That's not cheese in the picture. I really thought I had followed the directions to the letter, but as usual, things went terribly awry. The caramel wouldn't spread without decimating the brownies underneath and then it cooled into a rock-hard mess. Cutting them into squares -- well "squares" is a very flexible term when applied to my

baking style-- took a Herculean effort that required sculpting tools and techniques. I sent them on anyway and hope to God The Boy doesn't yank a filling out. Still tasted good and will give the jaw a nice workout.

@WendyWillis1 from Twitter said: "Anything local that they can't buy where they are now. My kid is from Hawaii, live in NYC, so Crack Seed Shop care pkg is (love.)"

I really related to Wendy (after googling what "crack seed" was -- it's safe!) as our kids all graduated high school when we lived on a small tropical island. The conch shell horn is family tradition, 24 drove her dorm-mates crazy with her incessant blowing. The Boy chose a college with a rich sports tradition, so

the horn will come in handy at sporting events.

Laurie from Facebook:
"Rolls of quarters for the laundromat were always a hit!"

Mary Anne, who tweets, blogs and facebooks exclaimed, "Money!"

LOVE the rolls of quarters. Especially since we expect our kids to work for daily basics while in college, it's a good way to give them a little money without ACTUALLY giving them money. Jeez, college is ridiculously expensive

and we feel strongly that to appreciate it, they must pitch in. Though, like Mary Anne, we sneak them checks for their birthdays and such. (Shhh...don't tell anyone!).

Another no money cheat is gift cards for groceries, restaurants, clothes, etc. The Boy doesn't get a gift card until he cleans his room. I'm guessing he "loses" things in there on a regular basis. I also have to wonder how much money is wasted by people not redeeming gift cards. Come to think of it, The Boy is better off, I'd probably be constantly nagging him about using it. Yeah, he's definitely better off.

@SpringStCandle from Twitter: "Lots of storage solutions if there is a dorm involved!"

Absolutely wonderful idea. Dorms are tight spaces and anything you can find to create space would be most welcome.

The Boy received a laundry basket for this suggestion, as he is now post-dorm.

Now for a little "mental health break" -- no one is better at cracking an inappropriate, yet wickedly hysterical joke than The Boy's "Uncle" Rich: "How about a stack of nudey magazines and a 5 pack of Red Stripe."

While The Boy may well enjoy those things, I found a magazine that I hope he will find equally stimulating: Entrepreneur. The lead story "Young Millionaires, How They Did It."

Family friend, Devin, was equally as scary: "Technology. Some cool gadget he doesn't have yet... but for entertainment, not education. (ipod, psp,video watch...) Or, the funny option: Magnums."

Holy crap! Devin's kids get video watches? I think I'm sticking to the GypsyNester gang on this one!

We got The Boy a movie (movies are technology, right?), he's a pilot, so Airplane! is a cult classic among his friends. Again, I'm ignoring the condom suggestion, I'm his Mom for God's sake.

He'd kill me for blogging about his condom situation.

Another note on movies. We sent both 22 & 24 "best of" video DVDs in their first care package. They included funny clips of them, family antics, theatrical productions, band & choir recitals, etc. They LOVED it! Of course we have no footage of The Boy, so he didn't get one.

Thank you notes. Make sure you include stamps. Get the most masculine ones you can find if your spawn is a male.

Doesn't mean that they will actually be sent, but it ups the odds. I'm happier to get a thank you phone call myself, seems much more personal (and fun!) but am satisfied with an e-mail. For some reason

the older crowd consider these means of communication rude. My mother-in-law included. So my kids send real live old fashioned thank you notes (sometimes).

Easy Mac is Top Ramen for rich kids. This just-add-water comfort food is great for care packages, and time and time again students put it way up on their favorites list. Also works as a nice packing buffer for breakable things!

Other nice packing materials -- local newspaper sections (homesick babies read these), small bags of chips (the ones with lots of air in them) and

sanitary products (sounds strange, but these are EXPENSIVE and are appreciated).

Other GREAT ideas from our brilliant readers:

Favorite snack foods: (Jalapeno Chex Mix and pretzels for The Boy, entire boxes of cereal for 24, nuts and candy for 22)

Toiletries: Shampoo, creams and potions, deodorant, contact lens solution, special soap, acne lotion, perfume -- that kind of stuff. The Boy got toilet paper this time. He and his roommates can't seem to keep it in stock. We sent it as a joke, but I'm sure it will be put to use.

Things for their computer: Print cartridges, computer paper, etc.

Pics from Home: Stick 'em in a frame if you are feeling fancy. Or not. They'll love 'em either way.

Make sure you send enough food to share: College kids are ravenous wolves. No better way to make a new friend than to share a cookie or two.

Veronica, GypsyNester.com

YOUR TURN: Any ideas to share?

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