I don’t know why we do it again and again. Ever since the kids came along, we no longer go to get refreshed and recharged. Instead, we’d always feel more drained and tired.
There was even once I attempted to do it without the domestic helper — in the name of “more quality time” with the kids. Who was I kidding? Fatherkao and I were totally bummed after that one.
I’m talking about going for a staycation.
We have a membership going on with the Copthorne chain of hotels and decided to redeem our complimentary night stay last weekend at Grand Copthorne Waterfront to celebrate Children’s Day. Of course, we had to book another connecting room to make sure everyone could sleep comfortably.
Now, a staycation with three kids in tow is like a simulation exercise for a family holiday. With every staycation, I learn to a) pack better, b) shush my kids up quicker for fear of the hotel management knocking at my door, and c) occupy them with available resources in the most creative way possible. Last weekend’s exercise had a new quickfire challenge: the baby was having a cold and a mild fever — so I had to pack medicine, nasal sprays and my mucus shisha, and made sure he was carried and snugged all the time so he wouldn’t be crying the hotel down. Then it poured on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, so we couldn’t check out the swimming pool and were stuck in two hotel rooms for the whole time. We had dinner, breakfast and lunch at Cafe Brio’s and only managed to take a short walk down Robertson Quay on Friday night when the skies cleared, but had to hurry back because my daughter decided to poop as she walked. Throughout the stay, the kids just ran from room to room, played with curtains and jumped on the beds, “swam” in a tub of warm water, while I nursed a cold and fatherkao watched movies on the iPad.
Every staycation just leaves us with the conclusion that we are not ready to fly and travel as a family yet; and we probably need more practice like this one before we go.
Till the next simulation.
8 Comments
I hope they had fun. Abby, the last photo: they were playing with the hotel key cards!
If nat is not sick it will a fun time for the family I am sure. From the last photo the older kids do have loads of fun!
In my deluded state of mind, I brought my twin daughters to Phuket when they were 18mths old. Even with my parents around to help, it was horrid!! By the first day, I was so depressed, all I wanted to do was go home. Staycations are best thing ever!!! Kids have so much fun in the hotel room itself, you really don’t need to go anywhere else.
Oh gosh. What a way to have a vacation! Haha, I guess you’re sticking to staycations now, eh?
I thought so too but we braved ourselves and went Penang last month with the grandparents and it turned out sane!! The girls are 2 now and had tons of fun, but me and hubby were thoroughly exhausted. Had to keep reminding self to keep it cool, they will eat when they’re hungry and nap when they’re tired. Was also pleasantly surprised that they sat wilingly on their own plane seat most of the time.
The last photo got me LOL!
A staycations is a good test bed for the real thing. I need to do one soon! I love that last shot, wahaha!
It says it all in my face – Help, I wanna go home, I’m stuck with two bored kids! 🙂