Care Packages for College Students

Care Packages for College Students – Meet Wesley, he’s my eldest son who left back in September, drove 4 hours away from home, all to begin a new chapter in his life at Frostburg State University. I couldn’t be any more proud! There’s just something about watching your child grow up and become successful that makes all of the fun, and sometimes not so fun, memories all worth it! Well I realized that although most kids say the usual “I’m fine mom” 90% of them miss the comforts of home dearly and so I’ve dedicated this article to Care Packages for College Students.

There are some “rules of the road” if you will.  When developing a care package for college,  I decided that although there is NEVER a bad time to send a college student care package, there is one time during the semester that it is absolutely the MOST appreciated – so I’ve named mine the College Exam Cram Care Package!  Lol! As parents we say, “college isn’t stressful, wait until you get out into the real world” but the truth is that college exams are very stressful for students. Not only does their entire semester ride on these grades but they’ve now been away from home for several months and they MISS their family, family pets, favorite cereals and everything else that was a home town comfort.

Rule #1) Include things from childhood that were favorite old time comforts. For me it was Big League Chew. It used to be so special to share gum with him when he was younger and I knew it would help with stress during the endless hours of studying!

Rule #2) Include some home town memories. We have grown up around the Chesapeake Bay attending crab feasts for fun and eating Old Bay Potato Chips, so I thought a few things that would bring back that hometown feel would be great.  An Old Bay Mug, Old Bay hat, and a glass for a drink seemed perfect for the package! Thanks to MarylandMyMaryland for the home state Maryland spirited items!

Rule #3) Include some healthful items. I figured he’s probably had plenty of junk so it would do his brain and body good to include some vitamins.  Since he’s not a kid taking chewables anymore, I turned to the brand NOW Foods. Years back I went to a nutritionist (Margaret Wright) for my thyroid disorder and she told me about the importance of quality vitamins from a reliable source and suggested NOW vitamins and my husband and I have been taking them for 4 years. So, 1 container of vitamins – a MUST for a healthy brain at exam cram time

Rule #4) Include delicious healthy treats you know they’ll love. When Wes attended the local community college I’d always have Nature Valley bars on hand for him to throw in his back pack because he’d be gone all day and sometimes he only had 15 minutes between classes – not nearly enough time to head to the cafeteria. Well, they’re relatively inexpensive and good for you too, which makes the granola bars the perfect snack while sitting with a cup of coffee or drink and spending long hours studying. The Crunchy Granola Bars have a new improved easier to bite & chew recipe.

Rule #5) Make it fun and happy with a special note or poem of encouragement! These are the things that kids remember forever because they touch their hearts! My 6  year old, which I might add, worships her big brother, wanted to help with Wesley’s care package and so she helped with the poem – and added her personal touch! How sweet! Anyway, read my poem below;

College Care Package Poem:

You’ve got a rough week coming up and you may even feel blue
So we’ve been racking our brains for what to send to you

The hats for your hair for mornings you wake up late
Or meet a nice girl and have a fun date

The bars are to eat when you need a good munch
or the times when you’re too lazy – to walk over for lunch

The gum is for fun, like when you were a kid
So sip on your coffee and open your eyelids

The vitamins are to help keep you strong and awake
So take 2 daily so you don’t act like a flake

Now take some good notes and be sure that you pass
The time will fly by just don’t sleep through a class!

We miss you Wesley – see you soon! We’re all so excited to see you and proud of the man you’ve become!

Off to the post office!  A big thanks to Big League Chew, Nature Valley, Now Foods and  MarylandMyMaryland for gifting these items to us! We’ve been using these brands for YEARS so it only makes sense to pass it along to the kids!