When 20 Tee Shirts Are Not Really 20 Tee Shirts

The summer ritual has begun, packing the trunks for camp. For the first time my kids camp

is picking up the trunks in advance. We usually drive them up with the kids which while burdensome is actually very nice. I never had to worry about that last week of clothing needs (not to mention shoes, make-up and other stuff) nor do I have to worry about the size of the bag they will bring on the bus. Usually a small carry on suffices. When my daughter found out the trunks were leaving in advance she asked me about a rolling bag to bring up on the bus with her. This is not a good sign.

Piles like this have been springing up around the apartment as we count out items and determine what needs name labels so that my sitter take care of this.

I started with my son~ you need 20 tee shirts. No I don't. Yes you do. No I don't. Just pick out 20 tee shirts, fine. Beyond that the conversations went more like this~ you need ten bathing suits. Okay.

A few hours and with the exception of some shorts, the shoes and a couple of random other items we are close to calling it a day. The shoes are a tough one there are so many sneakers he “needs” as you can see

These four pair (three basketball) alone are sitting by the door each worn within the last 24 hours. How will he every get it down to just four pair? Good question. I suggested he talk to my daughter. To be clear here are the shoes I am guessing she has on her list for camp.

This picture might lead you to believe my daughter goes to Camp Cocktail Party (with the occasional skater show thrown in) when in fa

ct they attend the same camp. But, I digress.

My daughter

would easily find a way to pack all of my son's shoes. To this when I said, you need to pack 20 tee shirts her first reply was this: Does that include crop tees? If they are tee shirt, yes. That can't include camp tees no way. Fine no camp tees.

You need nine tank tops. You mean nine Sugar Lips and then nine regular tank tops right? No, I mean nine tank tops. What about camisoles? You can bring five of those. Wait, just five? Right now we are up to nine Sugar Lips, nine tanks and nine camisoles.

You need 20 pair of shorts. To be clear the camp suggests ten pair and my son brings just 12 and says this is too many but I make him pack a few nicer pair.

Okay, twenty. That doesn't include jean shorts right? Yes it does. Does that include shorts as part of outfits. What do you mean? Outfits for like at night. Are they shorts? Yes. Then yes they are included. Okay. She puts them into piles and counts out twenty pair. Then adds the pairs she will wear up, bring up, and the ones for at night for outfits that I can't count as the other shorts because they are not really shorts they are for at night. Anyone else following this?

As so it goes. At this point my son might have a little extra space. I told him to offer a side pocket to my daughter~ but rent it to her. Sometimes I wish I could hire someone to do this for me then as my daughter goes on and on about the difference between outfit shorts and real shorts and I am laughing so hard and I think, nope.

Surprises…. pleasant and not so pleasant

 In Columbus Circle.

 In the fridge… oops time to clean.

Most excited for the season finale of Mad Men~ this has been a fantastic season sad it's ending.