We love those little buggers, we really do, but how nice is it to start and finish your morning coffee before it turns iced? Now that school is back in session, stay-at-home parents have a little more of that ethereal concept of time to ourselves. No matter how much fun we had taking them around Beijing for the new year’s holiday, or how many tears were shed while walking out the door, a little breathing time is always nice.
It’s tempting at these times to turn right to our to-do lists or move directly to that corner of the house that’s been calling for a donation bin or deep cleaner. And we might have the energy for those activities on the first day. But today, the second day of school being back in session should be just for us.
I know it’s hard to remember all those things you said you’d do if you just had the time, so here are our suggestions. Make the time before it becomes impossible to shower again, never mind take a breather.
Go For a Walk Somewhere New
Sometimes I neglect my own exploring for the idea that if I want to see a new place, I should expose my kids to it too. But how often can we not look around at our surroundings because they’re about to jump in a lake or touch a sculpture they’re not supposed to even be near? Find a new spot and just wander. Give yourself the time to see a place without worrying about all the trouble the kiddos can get into.
Try a New Lunch Spot. Or Visit a Favorite and Order Whatever You Want
Enjoying your food shouldn’t be a luxury, but we all know it is. Try one of your favorite spots and don’t take any work, just something offline to read. Or search your not-parent-specific-WeChat-groups for recommendations and just try one out of the blue. How nice to not check there are chicken nuggets on the menu?
No lie, nothing beats a quiet hour at Home Plate BBQ.
Catch Up on Pop Culture
Once in a while, I have a sitter scheduled and my plans fall through. Rather than go out on the town alone, I lock my door and enjoy some PG or above-rated shows. It’s kind of sad when your only time to binge-watch a new hit is when you’re sick in bed, and mostly because we don’t hire a sitter unless we have somewhere to go. Well, take these few hours and stay in bed and watch what you want to watch, darn it. Now excuse me, I have to finish Season 4 of The Crown.
Go For a Swim
Again, this is normally not an activity I would ever think to do without my kids. They beg me to take them swimming and the whole rigamarole of getting ready, remembering the right toys, swim caps, towels, blah blah blah is sometimes just too much. But if it’s just taking yourself to the pool, there’s time to really enjoy a good swim, for as long or as short as you’d like, without checking to see if security will kick you out for sneaking in a cannonball.
Let’s Go Ride a Bike
There’s no shortage of e-bikes in Beijing, and plenty of wonderful places to visit even before it’s spring. Take a bike ride to spots you’ve never been, or jet over to see the sculptures at Parkview Green, or just ride around Central Park. Who cares? Just breathe a little more fresh air on your own time.
Browse Through a Bookstore
This is really a lost art once you have kids. We love wandering around Page One Books together, and I can test how much Mandarin my kids really know but won’t tell me when we’re in the Sisyphe kid’s section, but it’s hard to get the time to simply look around and find a solid book to read. There’s nothing more exciting than discovering a new topic or author you never would have searched for on Taobao, but which speaks to you at that moment and makes you want to sit down to read.
Sometime around 2pm our lives revolve around those cherubs and their neverending need for Cheerios and cuddles after a long day at school. Take a minute to remember what you need to fill your own cup as well.
KEEP READING: Are School Breaks Negotiable? Take the Poll
Images: Canva, Cindy Marie Jenkins
