My name is Theresa Pauline, and my Chinese name is Taozi. I am an Italian-Norwegian American and hail from the land of Colorado. I’ve become beijingkids’ newest blogger, because I love to write, I love to explore, and on February 24 I became a mother. I have a beautiful baby boy named Kai with my English husband Ross, a.k.a. James Bond. We live in Sanlitun, and Ross and I have both been in Beijing for a long time, since 1999 and 2008 respectively. We returned to China last year after spending two and a half years globe trotting. We rode our bikes around China for two months, spent three months in India, three months in Africa, four months in Europe, six months in Mexico, and took lots of shorter trips around South East Asia and the United States.
We married in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in front of a hodgepodge of friends from all over the planet. I’m a yoga teacher and yoga therapist and you can find me teaching at Yoga Yard each week, or every other Sunday in Chaoyang Park leading a few dozen yogis at Yoga in the Park. I have a small business where I teach vulnerable women in Uganda how to make handmade bags; you might catch me selling these at one of the many summer fairs held around town.
We like to do a million and a half things with little Kai strapped to our chests. We don’t hold back because we have a baby. Our method of parenting is very laissez faire. I enjoy the blue sky days but don’t let the smog get us down or lock us up. I believe in stars aligning and magic; healthy living and fun; smiling just to smile. I hope to share with you our escapades in the city as parents, tips for living in Beijing, and small life hacks for making the most of your time here. I especially want to introduce you to my favorite things and the amazing people in this city that make it one of the greatest places to live.
Photos: Theresa Pauline
