Tiny space, big storage capacity for family trips—moms, relax!

Whenever it’s time for a short trip, it feels like a caged bird finally finding that patch of blue sky labeled “freedom”! Being a full-time mom is no easy job—with aging parents and two little ones, you wouldn’t believe how stressed out I get at home every day. The moment I wake up, I’m wound up like a spring, and life has gradually sucked all the smiles away. Only by taking a family trip away from Taipei can I recharge my positive energy and keep the relationship with my spouse harmonious too!! > <

I was chatting with friends the other day—everyone was freely sharing their travel plans, weaving beautiful dreams—but full-time moms are just really feeling the pressure, you know? But every time we think about going on a longer trip, just the thought of packing makes it feel so troublesome?! And moms being the over-preparers they are, bringing this and that—the luggage just gets heavier and heavier... Travel becomes such a burden. How do you “fit a lot into a small space”... and find what you need without having to rummage through everything in a mess!? This time, during our little trip, I’d like to share that actually, packing requires some skills!!

I believe many moms’ bags or luggage always have over 80% of the items meant for the kids... Now, I’ve even quietly skipped packing my own bag altogether!! > “ < After all, my phone rarely rings, and even if it does, I never get to answer it... When I go out, I just spend the hubby’s money, so I don’t even need to bring a purse either (smart move)! What kind of life do moms really live after having kids!? (blank stare) I’m a mom who doesn’t like clutter, so before packing, I have to first think about the [essential items] for each day’s itinerary. Items that are too repetitive or unnecessary should just be left behind if possible.

For a 3-day-2-night trip, actually, excluding the clothes worn on the first day of travel, the amount of clothes I typically pack is [2 sets of pajamas + 3 sets of outfits per person + 2 jackets]. For pajamas, I can pick out old home clothes that are already worn out and just retire them directly... As for outfits, prepare 3 sets, one of which is mainly in case the child sweats or spills something and needs a quick change. Because the weather is getting cooler now, we’re often fooled by the sunshine outdoors, and for kids with high body temperatures who love running around during the day, it’s very easy for them to sweat. Often, children catch colds because they sweat too much, then get exposed to the wind. If the temperature isn’t too cold yet, short sleeves + long tees work; if the weather is damp and chilly, then two long tees, prepare a lightweight, easy-to-remove vest for the day, and switch to a thicker jacket when it gets cold at night...

For the mini treasure in the diaper phase, I estimate about 6–7 diapers per day—half a day’s worth is kept in the travel mom purse, and then the next day when we head out, I replenish with enough diapers from the suitcase for that day’s outing... Also, I’ll prepare an extra set of [bath towels, blankets, kids’ pillows, anti-kick vests] for home use, because hotel bath towels often use a lot of strong-smelling detergent, and for kids who are sensitive or delicate at home, it’s better to bring your own. The ones at home are comparatively milder and more suitable for kids.

For longer trips, such as overseas or extended durations, if you have personal care or hygiene products you’re used to, it’s recommended to bring the full-sized bottles along. Things like body wash or lotion often come with trial sizes from kids’ activity events, which can be saved for trips. After all, bringing all those bottles and jars takes up so much space, so it’s better to portion out roughly the amount you’ll use and store them in smaller containers—they take up less room. Also, for some reason, I always feel like I must use a face mask when staying overnight, to really enjoy this rare holiday without cooking or laundry!

Ever since I became a late-night blogger, I can’t go anywhere without my camera—even on short trips, I still bring my laptop, always eager to document and share the travel experience. Can’t I just give myself a proper day off?! Sigh... For electronic gadgets, chargers, memory cards, and other accessories must all be packed. There are travel organizers available in stores like Muji—you can find them easily—they’re great for sorting things like girls’ sandals or flip-flops. As the name suggests, it’s all about good categorization. But actually, if you have suitably sized bags at home, or makeup bags, or even kids’ suitcases, they might all become handy helpers for smart packing too!

Also, highly recommended are ziplock bags!! Whether it’s seasonal storage at home, or packing clothes or small items while traveling, ziplock bags are definitely a must-have for organizing freaks, and you can even pack a few extra to hold the dirty laundry you change out of each day!

Putting it all together, once everything is ready... the most headache-inducing part is how to fit it all into this one suitcase, right?! (Rolling up sleeves)

Using the usual way of folding clothes, stacking them without any organizers often leads to a complete overflow. You even have to sit on the suitcase just to get the zipper closed~~~ And trying to find one piece of clothing sends you into a full-on mom meltdown. And then you have to clean up the mess afterward. Is traveling really this Q(troublesome)? Travel clothes also have methods, you know? The “roll” method makes clothes take up much less space, not only freeing up room but also making it easier to find things. The clothes you wear more frequently can also be rolled more loosely. I, being super organized, will even roll my socks in little bundles!! It’s just how us organization freaks are...!! Two kids, each with their own little suitcase~

The kids’ clothes are neatly allocated into one small suitcase per child. Isn’t that cute~~ Their gear is so colorful that even mom wants one herself. Apart from being travel storage boxes, these can also double as little tote bags for outings, holding their favorite cars or toys~~ Or... helping to lighten the load of the mom purse a bit, for sure vv”. Then each child gets a cute animal image, letting them have their own special mystery box while traveling ^^

After rolling all the clothes and placing them down, sequentially add the other pre-sorted items—like bath towels, blankets, pillows... larger items that take up more space are spread out on the top layer. Ta-da…… Packing isn’t troublesome at all. Just stick to a few principles—make a detailed packing list. Easy to get started~~ Streamlined~~ Super streamlined!! (Please give some applause?!)

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After having kids and ending the working woman life, every day is spent being chased by the kids, even more exhausting than work. Taking care of children certainly demands a lot of energy and stamina, and sometimes moms just want to breathe some free air. Remember, considerate husbands, don’t forget—take the opportunity to take moms and the kids out more often. Schedule regular little family trips, let the kids broaden their horizons—moms can also catch their breath from the busy life!

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