The Care Package Dilemma(s)

Something I really want to do, regarding Alex's freshman year of college, has yet to happen: A Care Package Sent from Home. 

I've had it on my mind since before we left him in Athens on August 12. In fact, I had written a little To-Do Item, "Care Package," on the September 1 page of my planner, so I wouldn't forget. I wanted to give him a little time to miss me first, and then swoop into his shiny new post office box with a creatively and lovingly packed reminder of home.  

My Mom sent me a few care packages, particularly during my freshman year. I still have the little ceramic Halloween candle she tucked into the first package along with some candy corns and warm socks. My Mom was also the BEST letter-writer. When she wasn't sending packages, she was definitely sending long, newsy letters on cute, seasonally appropriate printer paper (remember that??), and I loved to receive them, and read them while walking back to my dorm, or on a bench on the quad with fall leaves underfoot (seems too perfect but it was truly a thing I did, and a memory I cherish).

I've also studied our friend Swistle's many wonderful posts about care packages. I started reading them well before I even had a kid in college, of course, and I want to be like Swistle! I did use her lists as a good supplement to UGA's "what to bring" dorm lists, and made sure Alex started out with some Easy Mac, vitamins, his favorite cookies (Chewy Chips Ahoy), band aids, hand warmers for when it gets cold, gift cards, granola bars, etc. 

But the universe has conspired against me, otherwise, and so far I have sent him Zero packages! Not even from Amazon! (And also not from the places that want you to subscribe to their "cards for college" service, and deliver pre-made care packages on the regular to your Darling Son or Darling Daughter. I have mixed feelings about these, but mostly don't believe in them... except when I start worrying that everyone is getting them once a month like clockwork while my kid isn't.) 

The obstacles have included:

• He came home after two weeks, again after five weeks, and a third time after 7 weeks. While I have loved getting to see him, it does sort-of preclude the SENDING of a little giftie.
• We went to see HIM! We enjoyed our first football game in Athens and that, too, negated the need to send him something. 
• Other people have beat me to it! His girlfriend's mom got a package to him last week, as did his Gammy! So now it's another "reset" - I feel like I need to wait to send him anything lest his room be covered up in candy and granola bars! And by the time he runs low on supplies it will be Thanksgiving! 

So I can't win. Have I handed him gift bags of stuff, when I've seen him? Yes, definitely, it being my only option. When we went to the football game, I put candy corn (he likes it), some other Halloween candy and do-dads (a dish to put the candy corn IN), some cough drops and Flonase, and I can't remember what else into a cute bag. When he has come home on a weekend, I've asked if he needs anything before my weekly grocery shopping, and sent him back with a box of Pop Tarts or a 6-pack of Coke. Last night, we saw him for a brief minute -- his marching band performed in Cobb County! -- and I gave him a DampRid refill for his dorm, a Sprite for the bus ride home, a couple of microwave noodle bowls, and a Ziploc of homemade cookies. That satisfied my itch somewhat. 

But I'm really sad that my vision of him being delightfully surprised by a box filled with clever treats hasn't happened yet.