We sent letters written on computer paper on which we'd printed current and old pictures (B&W). One son's squad allowed it (provided he shared the pix), the other son - nope.
NO PACKAGES. NO PACKAGES. NO PACKAGES.
Here's an idea we got from a mom years ago which worked wonders and the fruits of which we still have:
We sent "quiz letters" with a stamped addressed envelope for them to return to us. Check out old threads for more examples but here are a few:
1. What are your roommates names and where are they from? ___________________, ____________________.
2. Roommates seem:
a. Most Excellent!
b. Nice enough, no problems
c. Ravens Fan
d. Subhuman Ravens Fan.
e. ________________________________________.
3. My cadre is/are: (see above)
4. The food here is:
a. FANTASTIC! I have never eaten so well! I LOVE MY FOOD.
b. OK, but not Mom's!
c. Consumable.
d. Unholy, unhealthy.
e. ______________________________________________/
5. The thing I like best about BCT is:
a. All the friendly people, the activities, the food - Just the pure joy of being here!
b. It's not working at the grocery store/restaurant kitchen/office
c. Meh - not a lot, but not horrible.
d. Please sign me up for a root canal with no anesthesia as that would be preferable.
e. _____________________________
6. The thing I dislike about BCT is:
a. Nothing! It's great!
b. Miss my family! Even the cat! Even baby sister! Even mean big brother! Even chores! Even __________________!
c. Early rising
d. ______________________________________________
7. The person/people I miss most are:
a. Seriously? Glad to be rid of you! Ravens fans.
b. Mom, Dad, Sister(s), Brother(s), Dog(s)
c. That sleazy girlfriend Mom despises.
d. No one! The people here are so great!
e. My drug addled high school drop out neighborhood vagrant.
So, you get the idea. Here's what you do:
Send TWO copies. One for them to keep with notes from you on the back, and one they return to you, with the SASE. The comments they put on are hilarious. We reread them once a summer, to remind us of that long-for-us summer when our twins left home, now eleven years ago! How different they are now, married with two and three kids each (with another on the way), pilots, most excellent adults. OTOH, how alike they are to each other, and how their basic personalities didn't change- priceless!
Now get busy writing.