Large sticker to go on bag?

Flugelhorn

you can often get cheap bags (holdall type) from market stalls - I think 5 days is quite a while if he is worried that someone is going to comment on the bag / patch etc

HPoirot

I've been known to use an iron-on patch on a suitcase so I could find it without fussing about near the carousel. Never came unstuck. Got it from John Lewis but not sure if they still have it now.

Georgiegirl256

I wouldn't go down the sticker/patch route either, it could end up making it look even worse.

You can get some really good (and reasonably priced) buys in a Charity shops or on eBay. Much better than having a bag that looks like a DIY project.

Seanymph

Does he care about the sticker or not?

that's your guidance.

Boys sense weakness - if he has tried to cover it they will mind it - if he doesn't mind and someone says 'nice girls bag' and he is able to say 'yeah'. It won't even figure.

I had to learn a whole new way of being having raised two girls when I acquired an 11 year old step son.

Things I anguished over he didn't even notice (nor did his friends) - things I never even flagged up caused him to dig heels in and becoming unmoving, I used to notice his lack of engagement first, THEN the reason.

Ask your son how he would like to deal with the bag 'issue' - and if he says he doesn't care trust him.

Nothing worse than saying 'no, my mum did it' I learnt. Offer, don't decide.

victory

pickledonionspaceraider wrote: »

Get him his own bag. It can double up as his new 'back to school' bag. PLEASE don't send him with a girls bag with a sticker covering it...it is highly likely to get ripped off

All the telling him not to worry about what others think is completely irrelevant to school kids - they DO care what other kids think - they are not old enough to have the insight that other pples opinions mean nothing. All most kids want to do is fit in and be like everyone else

100% this:) charity shops, car boot sales have cheap bags, it really is not worth the ribbing he could get.

dandelionclock30

HPoirot wrote: »

I've been known to use an iron-on patch on a suitcase so I could find it without fussing about near the carousel. Never came unstuck. Got it from John Lewis but not sure if they still have it now.

Yeah but your an adult, kids are different, I wouldnt be bothered if I had a suitcase with a patch on, belt round and a sock hanging out. But kids often cant cope with people taking the Mickey and they will given half the chance.
Also kids will go on and on about it for ages etc as well. I'm into sport in fits and starts and I've had some very cheap and robust bags off Ebay.

Nada666

Why would he trash a bag or throw it away?

Or why would you do that?

If he is old enough to be going away for five days by himself why would he not have a bag of his own?

If the trip is weeks away surely the budget can stretch to less than a tenner for backpack? Why would the household not want an additional neutral bag?

angelil

pickledonionspaceraider wrote: »

Get him his own bag. It can double up as his new 'back to school' bag. PLEASE don't send him with a girls bag with a sticker covering it...it is highly likely to get ripped off

All the telling him not to worry about what others think is completely irrelevant to school kids - they DO care what other kids think - they are not old enough to have the insight that other pples opinions mean nothing. All most kids want to do is fit in and be like everyone else

But why is it so important to teach kids to fit in? By teaching kids to fit in, are we not just teaching them to bully others who are different?

Seanymph wrote: »

Does he care about the sticker or not?

that's your guidance.

Boys sense weakness - if he has tried to cover it they will mind it - if he doesn't mind and someone says 'nice girls bag' and he is able to say 'yeah'. It won't even figure.

I had to learn a whole new way of being having raised two girls when I acquired an 11 year old step son.

Things I anguished over he didn't even notice (nor did his friends) - things I never even flagged up caused him to dig heels in and becoming unmoving, I used to notice his lack of engagement first, THEN the reason.

Ask your son how he would like to deal with the bag 'issue' - and if he says he doesn't care trust him.

Nothing worse than saying 'no, my mum did it' I learnt. Offer, don't decide.

^^ This.

pickledonionspaceraider

angelil wrote: »

But why is it so important to teach kids to fit in? By teaching kids to fit in, are we not just teaching them to bully others who are different?

That is under the assumption that children have the courage of their convictions in the same way an adult does. It is not about 'teaching' them to fit in, it is about not making them a target. Children do not have the insight to realise that other peoples opinions doesn't matter to them and their self confidence is fragile. Other childrens opinion matters greatly to a child.

It is not really about what the parents want, but more about the child, and how the child would feel - but for the sake of a £10 bag, it really isn't worth it

Either way, however it is handled, send him with the bag or don't - one childs stance isn't going to change the world

RuthnJasper

OP, you could always "cannibalise" an old T-shirt or pair of trousers; cut it up to make a couple of patches.

For what it's worth, I agree that it's good to mitigate against the possibility of being ribbed by his fellow-students. Kids can be quite cruel and any nickname bestowed upon him could last for a great many years.

Whatever you decide, OP, I hope your son has a really fantastic trip. x