Packing for a Summer Road Trip Is the Ultimate Way to Show Your Family You Love Them

And somewhere between checking the dimensions of the travel crib and splurging on a set of headphones for the Tonie box, I winced—and wanted to cry a little—at the back-breaking effort that goes into it all. Is it worth it? I asked. Should we even go? I’m here to tell you, yes.

Here’s why: Packing for a road trip isn’t just about logistics. It’s also about ages and stages. It took me a long time to get pregnant the second time around (I did IVF), and as a result, I tend to focus on the micro moments. I appreciate the “firsts” as well as the “lasts.” And though it doesn’t seem like it now, some day “packing my kids” will become a last.

But perhaps more to the point, it’s proof they still need me. Don’t laugh, but laying out every single article of clothing before stuffing my car to the gills feels like an act of love, a way to anticipate my children’s needs before they are old enough to do it themselves.

Look, this isn't to say that invisible labor is fun. It's not. I'll still grumble while triple-checking the snacks and sunscreen while my husband blissfully worries about just his own duffle bag. But lately, I've started to see these efforts differently. Every item crammed into the car is there because my kids still need it—and, for now, they still need me to remember it.

One day, we'll head out the door with far less stuff. No travel crib. No sound machine. No favorite beach toys tucked between suitcases. The car will be easier to pack, and the mental load will be lighter. But as I stand in the driveway this summer, playing a game of trunk-space Tetris before another family adventure, I'm reminded that the chaos isn't just a burden. It's also a sign of a season of life. One that is beautiful and one that is fleeting.