Because I have settled near my family’s ancestral hunting grounds, I am not obligated to travel over the holidays—most of my relatives live within 40 miles of my house.  Many of you are not so “lucky”.  I can just picture you now: weeping over a mountain of stuff twice the size of your luggage.

Cry me a river.

Packing light while traveling with kids is about as achievable as, say, time travel.  Forget about it.  Instead of packing light, try packing lighter.  Here are five ideas to get you started:

1. Kick the Shoe Habit
Recently I became dissatisfied with my shoe collection.  Everything I owned suddenly struck me as hopelessly:

a) black,
b) practical,
c) shabby from overuse, or
d) all of the above.

As part of my pre-shopping ritual, I checked out people’s footwear for the better part of a week.  And guess what? Everyone wears comfy, shabby, black shoes.  Choose one pair of comfy, shabby, black shoes at random, and put them in your suitcase.  See how easy this is?

2. Beg, Borrow, or Steal
Hands up if you’re visiting your parents this holiday season.  Unless you come from squeamish stock, the people who gave you life will probably be more than happy to front you some shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion, toothpaste, and a hairdryer.  Same with your in-laws.  After all, you birthed their grandchildren.

3. Shop on Arrival
Unless you’re off to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea (in which case, you are totally on the wrong website), why not just hit a drugstore or grocery store en route to your final destination?  You can load up on granola bars, crayons, magazines, mac n’ cheese, Nyquil, and diapers without having to schlep it across airports and time zones.

4. Ship It
With airlines charging premiums for checked bags these days, hauling gifts in your luggage makes about as much sense as linen pajamas.  A  pre-trip excursion to the Post Office is a far better option.

In fact, you might just want to have everything delivered.  Order your necessities from Babies Travel Lite, and they’ll be waiting for you when you arrive.  Diapers, wipes, medicine, and baby food are only the beginning too.  Send toys, baby proofing gear, and pacifiers ahead as well, and this trip is beginning to sound like a vacation.  Well, almost.

5. Read Less
Do you belong to the tribe of people who never goes anywhere without a book or two or five?  Me too.

Now pick up the five closest books.  Notice anything?  That’s right: they’re heavy and bulky.  Could you get by with one book?  Could you make do with back issues of TV Guide?  Could you spend hours of quality time with your family instead of holing up like the antisocial hermit that you so obviously are?

Me neither.

Recent posts by this author

• Need Healthy Travel Snacks? Think Inside the Box
• Sidetracked! Good Times Dog Sledding Tour
• Got a Plane Spotter in the Family?
• Sleigh Rides and Snow Slides: Family Vacations in Keystone
• What To Do When Your Seats Aren't Together