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Lotsa boxes
  
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By CYNTHIA LESCALLEET
Not to put any extra holiday pressure on you, but you really need to get those homemade care packages filled and shipped off now to your finals-facing far-flung college students, especially if they weren’t home for Thanksgiving.
You could fill one yourself. It’s a labor of love for many parents — usually moms.
Or you could click on one of those websites that offer readymade baskets with a number of themes, which is quick and convenient.
Or, you could gather with a bunch of friends whose children you watched grow up with your own and fill boxes for all of them (while catching up with each other).
Let’s call these groups “care package collectives.”
Some of them meet and ship more frequently than others, but most will rally for finals. Several, in fact, are packing it in this week, sending encouragement and stress-busting goodies fit for the end of the semester. Note to packers: However members might choose to interpret that finals theme, students polled said they hope caffeine, chocolate and a little cash are included.
The meeting formats of these groups might differ, but the idea behind them is friendship.
Some groups form as their children head off to college because mothers wish to keep the connections they made through good times and bad over the years when their children were playmates and classmates.
Others form to foster new friendship between those whose children are now at the same college.
Either way, the gatherings are about more than what goes into the boxes bound for dorms across the country.
“The truth is, we as mothers get as much out of it as our kids do,” said Rita Leader. She belongs to two care package collectives. Each formed as one of her sons headed to college and sends boxes twice a semester.
“For me, it was the ability to maintain the relationships forged in the rain at soccer games,” she said.
When children head to college, it’s hard to see them go, she said, but it’s also hard if their leaving means losing the adult friendships.
The group’s occasional gathering is a good way to remain connected, Leader said. “We really talk to each other.”
Another mother, who has participated in four groups, said members not only fill packages but get to hear what other students are doing.
Topics might tap how roommateships are working out, how well prepared students were for the rigors of college and maybe romances, too.
“It’s a little group therapy for moms,” Leader said. That also means information is confidential.
More than one group sends students a shipment regardless of their academic status. If a student takes time off, he or she still gets a box.
The recipients “start realizing that they have an extended network of ‘moms’ who really do care about them,” one mother said by e-mail.
The mechanics of a care package party are pretty easy. Each participant typically brings one item in bulk to fill all the boxes. Items can be necessities or just entertaining. Sometimes, the boxes get decorated as part of the process, which if nothing else, give the university’s mail room workers a good laugh.
A decorated box can be a great ice breaker, a mother said. By the end of freshman year, everyone else on the floor knows about them and how the contents are often shared.
By having a box filled by several participants, “Our kids get a much more interesting package because we’re not just filling it on our own,” said Katrina Manning, a member of Froggie Moms of Houston.
She might send items on her own, but the group gathering has been an effective way to meet and mingle with other mothers of Texas Christian University students. In fact a group of newly befriended Froggie Moms hit Round Top, she said.
Meanwhile, the box-filling event has become so well attended that it’s now divided into sub-groups for distribution to daugheters or sons.
On the receiving end of the largesse, Manning’s son Spencer, reported by e-mail that “care packages are always nice, but they are especially appreciated at finals time. It is like a little motivational boost — not to mention you are the envy of your roommates, which gives you a psychological edge going into finals."
As part of its adult ministries outreach, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church hosts a care package cookie drive for college students before finals. Gift cards for coffee are also part of the shipment, as is a note from the pastor.
This week’s packing event expects to prepare about 125 boxes to students near and far, and even locals, “so they know we’re here and care for them,” said Susan Ishmael of the adult ministries program.
Some who participate in the shipment don’t even have children in college, she said. While the college care packages are a long tradition at the church, Ishmael said team this year changed its name to “The Home Team” and added a special focus on freshman since they’re adjusting to life on their own.
At some of the older, more established collectives, members reluctant to be identified said staying connected allows moms to do what they’ve always done with close friends: compare notes of what their mostly grown children are experiencing and draw solace when the blues hit about their absence or any rough patches they hit.
“There are happy moments and sad moments along the way,” said one participant.
Some groups have been around long enough to have weathered not only college, but internships and weddings.
“One of the reasons the groups continue to meet past college and the box stage is that we all like each other’s kids as well as each other,” said one veteran of the care package collective circuit.
Meanwhile, some package recipients have become rather used to well-timed, thoughtful boxes from a group of mothers who know them well.
One was reportedly disappointed to learn that moving into an apartment and starting a real job also marked the end of the tradition.
Care package a la carte
By KIRSTEN SALYER
ksalyer@hcnonline.com
The days when you could slip a note in your children’s lunch boxes or send them goodie baskets at summer camp may end when they leave for college but that doesn’t mean they no longer need supplies or are any less excited to get mail.
College students in an informal poll earlier this fall weighed in on what they need, what they want — and what you’re wasting postage sending.
Please Send:
Lightweight packages. We’ll be carrying them across campus.
Money. So we won’t have to volunteer for psych studies that pay.
Food. Think comfort food like our favorite snacks, your homemade cookies, candy, tea, etc.
Notes. Handwritten notes are more personal than e-mails. (They’re extra special when they come from Dad, even if Mom put him up to it.)
Starbucks cards. Coffee can be an absolute necessity for a successful college experience.
Gas cards (if applicable). No one’s going to say no to that.
Ink cartridges. They’re expensive and run out more quickly than you’d think.
iTunes card. Good tunes = good studying = good grades. (Plus, if you download music illegally at college, you’re almost certain to get caught.)
Laundry quarters. The pain of going out to get change can sometimes outweigh the need for clean clothes.
New pair of socks. They always seem to get lost somewhere in between the washing machine and the dryer.
A fresh pair of shower shoes. Have you seen dorm bathrooms? Eww.
Goofy news clips. They’re great to stick up on the bulletin board for a laugh. (But general news clips or information about the old high school are boring. We’ve moved on.)
Holiday stuff. It’s nice to bring in a bit of homey, holiday cheer. A string of lights can become a year-round decoration.
Winter gear (i.e. scarves, hats). A warm new accessory is a nice change after wearing the same thing for months.
Things to make us smile or laugh. It’s great to know you’re thinking of us.
Don’t bother sending:
Things we wouldn’t have bought or wanted when we were at home. If we wouldn’t have used it then we’re not going to start now.
Books to read. There is enough to read for class. We won’t be spending free time reading novels.
Do-dads (i.e. stuffed animals, decorative things to put on our desks). They will only clutter up our already tiny, overfilling rooms.
Photos from home showing great times we’ve missed. Homesickness is hard enough already.
Weight / exercise tips (i.e. a scale or healthy snacks). The freshman 15 looms over our heads. You don’t have to remind us.
Food that will melt, spoil or leak in the mail. Opening up a sticky mess is such a letdown. (And the people working the mail room might hold a grudge.)
Pre-made kits. They don’t show much imagination and often only contain one useful item, if any.
Even if all the contents of the care package might not be exactly what we would have ordered, any package is better than none at all. Whether it’s a holiday treat, a finals survival kit or an unexpected surprise from home, it’s always nice to hear from you.
When not attending Northwestern University, where she’s a sophomore, Salyer is a reporter intern for the Examiners. She’s a Bellaire High grad and resident of West University Place.
Sharing Etiquette
Receiving a package from home in the mail automatically makes a student one of the most popular people on campus. Things they keep in mind about sharing the wealth:
You only have to share when people see you have something. (You may want to show off and open the package in the common room but be prepared to pass around the edible goodies).
It’s nice to get something to share with your roommate. (But remember we’re your kids.)
Hey, kids, the mail works both ways
Advice to resident advisors from a group that gives assistance to college assistants in traditional residence halls included a novel idea for first-year students. Have them send a care-package back home as a way to combat the homesickness or anxiety that comes from living away from home for the first time.
Some ideas for students to send:
Postcard of campus/university
A handwritten letter
Baked goods (cookies, etc.)
Photos
A note from the resident's RA or hall director/director of residential life
Campus newspaper
Some "personal" favorites (maybe mom or dad has a favorite candy, hobby, etc.)
Source: www.residentassistant.com
You could fill one yourself. It’s a labor of love for many parents — usually moms.
Or you could click on one of those websites that offer readymade baskets with a number of themes, which is quick and convenient.
Or, you could gather with a bunch of friends whose children you watched grow up with your own and fill boxes for all of them (while catching up with each other).
Let’s call these groups “care package collectives.”
Some of them meet and ship more frequently than others, but most will rally for finals. Several, in fact, are packing it in this week, sending encouragement and stress-busting goodies fit for the end of the semester. Note to packers: However members might choose to interpret that finals theme, students polled said they hope caffeine, chocolate and a little cash are included.
The meeting formats of these groups might differ, but the idea behind them is friendship.
Some groups form as their children head off to college because mothers wish to keep the connections they made through good times and bad over the years when their children were playmates and classmates.
Others form to foster new friendship between those whose children are now at the same college.
Either way, the gatherings are about more than what goes into the boxes bound for dorms across the country.
“The truth is, we as mothers get as much out of it as our kids do,” said Rita Leader. She belongs to two care package collectives. Each formed as one of her sons headed to college and sends boxes twice a semester.
“For me, it was the ability to maintain the relationships forged in the rain at soccer games,” she said.
When children head to college, it’s hard to see them go, she said, but it’s also hard if their leaving means losing the adult friendships.
The group’s occasional gathering is a good way to remain connected, Leader said. “We really talk to each other.”
Another mother, who has participated in four groups, said members not only fill packages but get to hear what other students are doing.
Topics might tap how roommateships are working out, how well prepared students were for the rigors of college and maybe romances, too.
“It’s a little group therapy for moms,” Leader said. That also means information is confidential.
More than one group sends students a shipment regardless of their academic status. If a student takes time off, he or she still gets a box.
The recipients “start realizing that they have an extended network of ‘moms’ who really do care about them,” one mother said by e-mail.
The mechanics of a care package party are pretty easy. Each participant typically brings one item in bulk to fill all the boxes. Items can be necessities or just entertaining. Sometimes, the boxes get decorated as part of the process, which if nothing else, give the university’s mail room workers a good laugh.
A decorated box can be a great ice breaker, a mother said. By the end of freshman year, everyone else on the floor knows about them and how the contents are often shared.
By having a box filled by several participants, “Our kids get a much more interesting package because we’re not just filling it on our own,” said Katrina Manning, a member of Froggie Moms of Houston.
She might send items on her own, but the group gathering has been an effective way to meet and mingle with other mothers of Texas Christian University students. In fact a group of newly befriended Froggie Moms hit Round Top, she said.
Meanwhile, the box-filling event has become so well attended that it’s now divided into sub-groups for distribution to daugheters or sons.
On the receiving end of the largesse, Manning’s son Spencer, reported by e-mail that “care packages are always nice, but they are especially appreciated at finals time. It is like a little motivational boost — not to mention you are the envy of your roommates, which gives you a psychological edge going into finals."
As part of its adult ministries outreach, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church hosts a care package cookie drive for college students before finals. Gift cards for coffee are also part of the shipment, as is a note from the pastor.
This week’s packing event expects to prepare about 125 boxes to students near and far, and even locals, “so they know we’re here and care for them,” said Susan Ishmael of the adult ministries program.
Some who participate in the shipment don’t even have children in college, she said. While the college care packages are a long tradition at the church, Ishmael said team this year changed its name to “The Home Team” and added a special focus on freshman since they’re adjusting to life on their own.
At some of the older, more established collectives, members reluctant to be identified said staying connected allows moms to do what they’ve always done with close friends: compare notes of what their mostly grown children are experiencing and draw solace when the blues hit about their absence or any rough patches they hit.
“There are happy moments and sad moments along the way,” said one participant.
Some groups have been around long enough to have weathered not only college, but internships and weddings.
“One of the reasons the groups continue to meet past college and the box stage is that we all like each other’s kids as well as each other,” said one veteran of the care package collective circuit.
Meanwhile, some package recipients have become rather used to well-timed, thoughtful boxes from a group of mothers who know them well.
One was reportedly disappointed to learn that moving into an apartment and starting a real job also marked the end of the tradition.
Care package a la carte
By KIRSTEN SALYER
ksalyer@hcnonline.com
The days when you could slip a note in your children’s lunch boxes or send them goodie baskets at summer camp may end when they leave for college but that doesn’t mean they no longer need supplies or are any less excited to get mail.
College students in an informal poll earlier this fall weighed in on what they need, what they want — and what you’re wasting postage sending.
Please Send:
Lightweight packages. We’ll be carrying them across campus.
Money. So we won’t have to volunteer for psych studies that pay.
Food. Think comfort food like our favorite snacks, your homemade cookies, candy, tea, etc.
Notes. Handwritten notes are more personal than e-mails. (They’re extra special when they come from Dad, even if Mom put him up to it.)
Starbucks cards. Coffee can be an absolute necessity for a successful college experience.
Gas cards (if applicable). No one’s going to say no to that.
Ink cartridges. They’re expensive and run out more quickly than you’d think.
iTunes card. Good tunes = good studying = good grades. (Plus, if you download music illegally at college, you’re almost certain to get caught.)
Laundry quarters. The pain of going out to get change can sometimes outweigh the need for clean clothes.
New pair of socks. They always seem to get lost somewhere in between the washing machine and the dryer.
A fresh pair of shower shoes. Have you seen dorm bathrooms? Eww.
Goofy news clips. They’re great to stick up on the bulletin board for a laugh. (But general news clips or information about the old high school are boring. We’ve moved on.)
Holiday stuff. It’s nice to bring in a bit of homey, holiday cheer. A string of lights can become a year-round decoration.
Winter gear (i.e. scarves, hats). A warm new accessory is a nice change after wearing the same thing for months.
Things to make us smile or laugh. It’s great to know you’re thinking of us.
Don’t bother sending:
Things we wouldn’t have bought or wanted when we were at home. If we wouldn’t have used it then we’re not going to start now.
Books to read. There is enough to read for class. We won’t be spending free time reading novels.
Do-dads (i.e. stuffed animals, decorative things to put on our desks). They will only clutter up our already tiny, overfilling rooms.
Photos from home showing great times we’ve missed. Homesickness is hard enough already.
Weight / exercise tips (i.e. a scale or healthy snacks). The freshman 15 looms over our heads. You don’t have to remind us.
Food that will melt, spoil or leak in the mail. Opening up a sticky mess is such a letdown. (And the people working the mail room might hold a grudge.)
Pre-made kits. They don’t show much imagination and often only contain one useful item, if any.
Even if all the contents of the care package might not be exactly what we would have ordered, any package is better than none at all. Whether it’s a holiday treat, a finals survival kit or an unexpected surprise from home, it’s always nice to hear from you.
When not attending Northwestern University, where she’s a sophomore, Salyer is a reporter intern for the Examiners. She’s a Bellaire High grad and resident of West University Place.
Sharing Etiquette
Receiving a package from home in the mail automatically makes a student one of the most popular people on campus. Things they keep in mind about sharing the wealth:
You only have to share when people see you have something. (You may want to show off and open the package in the common room but be prepared to pass around the edible goodies).
It’s nice to get something to share with your roommate. (But remember we’re your kids.)
Hey, kids, the mail works both ways
Advice to resident advisors from a group that gives assistance to college assistants in traditional residence halls included a novel idea for first-year students. Have them send a care-package back home as a way to combat the homesickness or anxiety that comes from living away from home for the first time.
Some ideas for students to send:
Postcard of campus/university
A handwritten letter
Baked goods (cookies, etc.)
Photos
A note from the resident's RA or hall director/director of residential life
Campus newspaper
Some "personal" favorites (maybe mom or dad has a favorite candy, hobby, etc.)
Source: www.residentassistant.com
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