I've been looking around at luggage. It's hard enough to try to figure out what I need to take, but then I need to consider what everyone else needs to take too. (I must be out of my mind.)

I terms of packing, J and my mom are on their own. Except J needs a wheeled duffle bag, and as men do not shop, I will have to find him one ("not too big" is my only instruction).

I figure the kids should each have a small wheeled suitcase and a backpack. B needs the suitcase; the others have them. Realistically, it's probably better for B's stuff to be packed with mine or the boys', but he'll pitch a fit if he doesn't have his own rolling suitcase. I think B needs a backpack too, but my mother may have bought him one. Little C's clothes can just go in with mine.

I need a wheeled duffle bag too, though my mom may have something I can use. I also need a backpack, and I just found a rolling backpack online that has a laptop sleeve in it, so I may buy that. I also have a smallish one-shoulder backpack/purse type thing. I also need a passport/money/ticket holder that straps around the waist or goes around the neck.

I should also probably pack a collapsable duffle bag to use to bring home souveniers and other assorted junk.

(This is exhausting).

While I was shopping (online) for travel gear, I saw a bunch of toiletry kits. I had a funny memory: When I was a kid, my Dad used to call it the "shit kit". It never occurred to us as children that that was a funny thing to call it; we didn't know it had another name.

We just used to yell, "Hey Dad, where's the shit kit?"

I'll have to remember to pack a shit kit.