Seeing your kids getting ready to leave home for the first time is never an easy sight. For any parent, it’s a huge conflict of emotions. On the one hand, you obviously want to see them succeed and want the best for them, which means letting them explore the world on their own and seek the best opportunities for growth. But on the other, they’re still your kids, and you would probably want nothing more than to keep them around. In the end though, it’s your duty to help them prepare for this and get them started on their journey. And setting them up with a few essential items is probably one of the best ways to do that.
Cookware
Are your kids going to cook for themselves? Probably not, at least at first. But that doesn’t mean you should leave them without anything for the job! It’s a good idea to pack all the basics they’ll need – a pot, a frying pan, a couple of spatulas, utensils, and anything else you can think of. It might sit packed up for a while, but the important thing is that it’s available when the time comes. And you can be sure that this will happen sooner or later. Once your kids learn the implications of living on a budget and managing their own money, they’ll quickly come to appreciate having everything they need to start cooking their own meals.
Storage and Organization
Boxes, hardcover folders, sorting drawers – no matter if your kids are going away to study or do something else, those will come in handy for any adult living on their own. This is especially true in the beginning when your kids are still trying to figure out where everything goes and how they want to organize their homes in the first place. Don’t be afraid to go a little overboard with these. We guarantee that they will find a use for them one way or another and will like the extra degree of freedom that having those tools provides. And if they have to move to a new place, all those boxes will play a huge role in making the process easier. Buy a special box to help them easily store your artificial tree
Cosmetics
Don’t forget cosmetics! Even if your kids don’t generally put that much extra effort into maintaining their looks, a good cosmetic package can still come in handy sooner or later. Brands like Aesop are great for this, as they have various packages specifically designed for certain purposes, like their “Departure Set” – check out ssense.com for more information. Check what they have on offer, pick a set or two, and make sure that your kids are informed about the benefits of each product in that set.
And of course, be ready to resupply them if they do use the set and go through it faster than you anticipated. If you want to take this a step further, you can customize your package with your own personal touch, adding some things that you know your kids will find particularly useful. Only you know what goes on that list though.
Cleaning Supplies
Hopefully you’ve taught your kids a thing or two about keeping a tidy home. And if you want to help them even further, providing them with a good range of cleaning supplies is a great initial boost that can help them get things up and running faster than most of their peers. Make sure they have everything they need for a good initial scrub of their new place. If they’re living with a landlord, this will make a great first impression. But even if not, it will still help them make their place their own as quickly as possible, and will go a long way towards helping them settle in.
Tasty Treats
And of course, no care package would be complete without some tasty treats to get your kids through those tough initial times. Pick some comfort snacks that they like, and don’t focus too much on the healthy aspect for now. The important thing is to help them feel at home when they’re far away from you, and their favorite snacks will go a long way towards that. Try to maintain a nice balance that features a little bit of everything, and of course, keep in touch with them to check if they’re running out of something faster than you anticipated. Keep them well stocked in those first few months, they’ll appreciate that!
But most importantly of all, remember to stay in touch. Your kids might seem a bit disconnected at first, and that’s normal when they’re still going through the initial phase of learning to live on their own and exploring their new lives. But you should remind them of your existence every now and then and probe them about their daily lives. They might not show it, but they will definitely appreciate that.