Care Packages in the Mail
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
Canada
November 8, 2015 1:36am CST
My daughter is living in Scotland for a year to do her Master's degree at university there. She moved over in September and I decided that, once a month, I would send her a "care package" in the mail. Being November, I'm working on the third box :) I try to think of things she might miss from home or can't find there, as well as things I can send that will save her money. She never knows when the boxes will arrive so each one is a surprise. She loves receiving them and says she is amazed at how much I can squeeze into a single box 
One of her flatmates is from a very affluent family. Her mom does a lot of shopping on Amazon UK and ships her things like shoes, boots, accessories and more. I asked my daughter if her two flatmates thought my care packages were sort of silly and was secretly thrilled when she said, "Oh no, they are jealous of my boxes, Mom... my friend says she wishes her mother would make and send her something personal, too." It actually costs me more to ship the boxes than the value of the contents but, believe me, it's worth every penny to make her smile 
Have you ever made/sent a care package to someone far away? What would you miss most, and want to find in a care package, if you were living away from home for an extended period?
One of her flatmates is from a very affluent family. Her mom does a lot of shopping on Amazon UK and ships her things like shoes, boots, accessories and more. I asked my daughter if her two flatmates thought my care packages were sort of silly and was secretly thrilled when she said, "Oh no, they are jealous of my boxes, Mom... my friend says she wishes her mother would make and send her something personal, too." It actually costs me more to ship the boxes than the value of the contents but, believe me, it's worth every penny to make her smile Have you ever made/sent a care package to someone far away? What would you miss most, and want to find in a care package, if you were living away from home for an extended period?3 people like this
3 responses
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
8 Nov 15
My mom used to do that for people who had moved out of state. She even did it for her ex-husband who cheated on her and was remarried living in Arkansas. It wasn't monthly, but once or twice a year she'd sent him some local foods he couldn't get over there. Course, even if you weren't living out of state she'd buy stuff for you from the store when she went every week. Tell her your favorite potato chip and she'd have 2 bags of it for you next time you went to visit her.
2 people like this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
8 Nov 15
@katsmeow1213 Your mom sounds like a really caring person! It's so cool when people remember things we say, even just in passing, and bring that back around in a thoughtful way. We really do get attached to certain foods - especially our treats and snack foods. My daughter doesn't really care for the chocolate where she's living. She loves very dark chocolate and can't get it easily in her new neighborhood. So I've shipped her at least 6 or 8 tablet type bars of dark chocolate which she tells me she hoards in her desk drawer because she doesn't want it to all be eaten up 
1 person likes this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
8 Nov 15
@katsmeow1213 The boxes tend to be a funny collection of things, I swear. In one box, there were ten packs of gum - for some reason, gum is super expensive there and she's one of those people that always carries a blister pack in her purse. I also sent her pantyhose because she is really tall (just shy of 6') and she couldn't find any there that would pull up all the way LOL It's turning out to be fun for me, too, just picking and choosing what to send - the dollar store is a fabulous place for that!
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
8 Nov 15
@thinkingoutloud I dislike dark chocolate... but nice of you to send her some of her favorite.
1 person likes this
@rahulvsmokiee (3110)
• Thiruvananthapuram, India
8 Nov 15
What is this care package meant? I am hearing that for the first time.
1 person likes this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
8 Nov 15
Hi @rahulvsmokiee :) A "care package" is a parcel that one sends, generally through the post, to a loved one that is living away from home. It includes items that will make that person happy and, hopefully, make them feel loved and remembered by family or friends back home. It is often useful items to help a student who is living in a dormitory or perhaps someone who is serving in the military.
1 person likes this
@rahulvsmokiee (3110)
• Thiruvananthapuram, India
8 Nov 15
@thinkingoutloud Wow thanks to let me know of thta. I appreciate your effort and time spend one replying me. have a great day and don't forget to be awesome.
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
8 Nov 15
@thinkingoutloud why did she choose scotland? how big is the box? i think it goes to show how much you know her and that you put yourself in her shoes. it's also great that you never tell her when you mailed them, feels like christmas every time.
1 person likes this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
8 Nov 15
@hereandthere She chose the university in Scotland because the program she wished to study is specialized and not offered everywhere. She is getting her Master's in Anatomy and Advanced Forensic Anthropology. The boxes I mail to her are 12" x 9" x 5" ... although I may send a bigger one for Christmas ;) I pack them as full as I can - it's like sitting on a suitcase, sometimes, to tape them shut
1 person likes this
