Packing for a Florida family holiday is supposed to feel exciting. Sunshine. Palm trees. Disney magic. However, before we get to the joyful part, we must first defeat the true boss level of family travel: packing for Mum and four children without completely losing the plot.
Florida packing is not simple. Florida weather has every personality possible. Hot and sunny one minute. Sudden rain showers the next. Humidity that tries to destroy your hair. A chilly breeze in the evening when you least expect it. So now my brain believes we need every type of clothing ever made. Shorts. Hoodies. Swimwear. Spare outfits for when someone spills something permanently sticky. It feels like an endless game of guess what the weather will do next.
Shoes are the biggest stress of all. The kids need comfy walking shoes for theme parks. They also need sandals for pool days. Then something nicer for evenings. Then backups for when someone gets a blister by lunchtime on day one. At this point the shoes alone are threatening to take over every suitcase we own.
Then comes sunscreen. How many bottles do you need to keep six people safe from the Florida sun for two weeks. Ten. Fifteen. A small truckload. It also needs to be the right sunscreen. Not sticky. Not smelly. Not the type that turns us bright white in photos. So yes. Sunscreen is a whole section on the packing list.
Just when I think I am winning at packing for a family holiday, I remember the entertainment for the journey. Tablets. Chargers. Headphones. Snacks that will not crumble into a thousand tiny pieces. Comfort toys that must be included or the entire holiday will be ruined before it begins. If even one favourite teddy is forgotten there will be tears from all of us.
And somewhere in the middle of organising the children I am supposed to pack for myself. Which means facing the swimsuit situation. My confident inner voice says yes to the bikini. Meanwhile the mirror and fluorescent bedroom lighting say absolutely not. I want clothes that are cute for pictures but also comfortable enough to walk around theme parks without feeling like a melted churro. Apparently this is a high level fashion challenge.
Despite the panic and the growing pile of clothes on the bed I know exactly why we are doing this. Every pair of socks and every stressy checklist is bringing us closer to the important part. Palm trees. Characters waving at the kids. Sunshine on our faces. Melting ice cream. The sort of memories that will stay with them forever.
Yes. Packing for a Florida family holiday can feel like a marathon where the finish line keeps moving. Yes. It is a little chaotic. Possibly a lot chaotic. However. It is also part of the excitement. Because the moment we step out into that Florida sunshine it will all feel worth it.
Even if the suitcases explode the moment we open them.
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