There comes a time when all little birds must fly away from the nest. Whether they are moving out of state or just down the road, it’s often a tricky transition for everyone involved.
As much as they drive us crazy, it can be hard to watch them go and even harder to get used to the silence when they are gone.
One of the hardest things about watching your child leave home is that you’re unsure they are fully ready for the responsibility. Will they ever wash their bedding? Separate the whites and darks? Will they be able to keep the pantry stocked and take care of themselves if they do get sick?
One very clever mum decided to arm her eldest son with ALL the supplies he would need to make this transition to adulthood with several ‘moving out’ boxes. These are starter kits that every home needs but young adults often ‘forget’ to purchase.
Mum’s moving out boxes are a winner!
Melbourne mum of two, Elaine Davies shared her idea with Mum Central, showcasing three different moving out boxes. We loved it so much we just had to share it with you too!
If you are a soon-to-be empty nester, this is an awesome idea to try!
First aid moving out box
Elaine stocked her son’s first aid box with all the medical essentials:
- Bandaids
- Berocca
- Antiseptic cream
- Pain medication
- Cold and flu medication
- Sport’s injury tape (her son is a soccer player)
Smart thinking, mum!
Pantry staples box
Next, the pantry. Elaine added some of her son’s favourites as well as the essentials such as:
- Sugar and flour
- Oil and vinegar
- Salt, pepper and several other seasonings
- Spreads and sauces – tomato sauce, mayonnaise, Nutella, jam, peanut butter
- Tinned foods – baked beans, tomatoes, tuna
- Pasta sauce and various other pre-mixed sauces for meals
- Soups, wraps and pasta
- Alfoil, cling wrap and baking paper
Cleaning box
For the cleaning box, Elaine purchased:
- Hand wash and hand sanitiser
- Dishwashing liquid and tablets
- Kitchen tidy bags
- Bug spray
- Dish cloths and tea towels
- Toilet bowl cleaner
- Air freshener
- Multi-purpose cleaner
- Laundry detergent and sanitiser plus pegs
Of course, these are only three of the many boxes you can make up. A few more ideas include a toiletries box (soap, toilet paper, shampoo, razors, etc) and a fresh food box (milk, cheese, butter, etc).
After you’ve gathered the products, simply chuck them into a cardboard box or a laundry basket. After all, those grown-up kids are going to need one of those too!
Such a cool idea and, as Elaine tells us, one that her son LOVED!
I wanted to give him something practical and my mind felt settled knowing that he had a cupboard full of products.Â[My son] was very emotional (as were we), but he really appreciated the thought behind the boxes and really. enjoyed putting things in his own space.”
Naww! Will you be making moving out boxes for your kids when they leave home?
