Ft. Carson - Colorado
Jennifer, Army Spouse

1) Let the children draw pictures on their boxes...
As the movers are filling boxes, let the children draw pictures of what is in those boxes with markers. That way when they are unpacked at the new house, they can tell what is in the box. It gives them a sense of understanding that this box was at our old house, it has my stuff in it, and now it is in my new house. If moms like to color coordinate, they can give each kid a different color marker.

2) DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING until you are satisfied...
If you request a full unpack when the movers arrive to unload, they are bound to do so. Once you sign something, they are legally released and don't have to finish. I signed before the unpack was completed, and they didn't unpack my boxes as I wanted.

3) When you see someone moving in/out...
bake them a batch of muffins for breakfast and take over a few paper cups and some milk/juice. It is hard to think about fixing breakfast when your movers arrive at 6 am, for either loading or unloading day. A dear friend actually went the whole nine yards for me the day we loaded to move away: She baked 2 kinds of muffins, cut up apples and bananas (knowing we had no accessible silverware), made two cups of coffee (and flavored them just the way we like them...we were very close). She had napkins, milk, paper cups and plates. It was like having a picnic...our last meal in our special house. I repay it about once every two weeks, but sadly not in such detail. (Obviously, I can't claim this one as my idea...my precious friend, Christie, served me this special meal.)