Stick it to the Man

As any parent knows, when packing for any sort of trip - whether it's just a weekend getaway or a move to a new house - your packing list ends up being huge. You seemingly have to pack everything.

Whatever Columbus had to put on his ships to search for the New World? The average parent has to fit that much and more into the trunk of the Honda Odyssey. Even more if you're worried about your kids getting scurvy.

If you're like Only-Married-into-Crazy Mom, you have a printed out list of things to pack. The list is kept in the suitcase, and then whenever it's packed, the list is checked and double-checked.

If you're like Crazy Dad, you don't have no steenkin' list. You fly by the seat of your pants. Pants optional.

But there's one thing that you absolutely must bring when traveling with kids. Crazy Dad gives this the highest possible recommendation.



Whenever you're packing for vacations, bring a STAIN STICK. One of those little Tide or Spray N Wash or Clorox instant stain removers.

Wherever you're traveling to, presumably you're not going to do laundry. Especially on vacation in hotels or resorts, it will be days or even weeks before you get to do laundry - if you do at all. And with all the experts emphasizing the importance of packing light, you might only bring two or three outfits to last you a week.

So the stain stick is a MUST HAVE. Just put it in your suitcase or travel bag. Wherever you go, you'll have it with you. Accidents happen - all it takes is one blob of marinara sauce to splatter or one spilled glass and you'll have to deal with the consequences for the whole trip.

Be prepared. Bring the stain stick.

Oh - and they're good for your children's accidents, too. But if your family has food accidents like Crazy Dad's, the parents seem to always be the ones who need the bibs and sippy cups...