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After the Staycation

May 28, 2012 By 2 Comments

I woke up at eight in the morning. It turns out no matter where I am, I can’t sleep for more than eight hours. But it was a surprise to find myself having a straight night’s sleep again.

I spent my staycation catching up with friends, watching a movie, having chocolate, shopping (or trying to anyway since I couldn’t find anything I needed to buy), having dinner and writing non work stuff.

I left the TV on all night, as I usually do when I’m alone in a hotel room. I woke up and changed the channel. I found the Filipino news story and it almost felt like I was in a hotel room in the Philippines. I opened the drapes to find I was still in Sydney.

A friend asked me what I hoped to get out of the staycation. It took me a moment to answer back, not because I didn’t want to sound like a selfish mother, but because I never really deeply thought about the reason.

Peace. I said.

It’s not to say that my life is that chaotic. I do only have one child and she is mostly an angel. I meant peace from responsibilities. I don’t have to take care of someone else but myself. I don’t have to be on guard so much to see if it’s time to feed her, bathe her, wipe her bottom, put her to bed and so on. These are basic needs of a child that the mother in me knows how to do. And they are not that hard. But the person in me just wants to have no responsibility. Even just for a day and night. I just wanted to have time to think about just my needs and not be on the clock.

The thing is, I also know I can only do this for one day and one night. I am very sure that if I stayed in this staycation mode for another day, I would be tearing my hair out – missing my child, missing my family, my husband’s hugs, my dogs’ excited greetings, even my always messy house. I do want to go back home – go back to juggling working from home with taking care of a child and managing the household all at the same time (basically juggling three full time jobs eh?). I like being busy but this pause is also needed. And it’s going to be once a year.

Staycation 2013 – Hilton, Sydney. Any sponsors?

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Mother’s Day Staycation

May 10, 2012 By 6 Comments

This year I made my decision early on what present I want for Mother’s Day – a staycation (not on the actual day itself, but later on in the month).

I’ve booked myself a room in a nice hotel (but not too expensive) in the city and I will be staying there for a night sans family.

Some of you are probably screaming “selfish bitch” while some of you are turning green with envy.

A staycation, I realised, is what I want each year. One day a year, I want to be a person – not a mum, not a wife, not a cook, a cleaner and all that.

I’m a bit of a loner with a dash of hermit so being on my own is something I cherish – even more so after having a child. When I was living in Singapore, I was on my own, doing my own thing and not answering to anyone about my activities. I sometimes miss that freedom.

Why not get out of the house when she’s at daycare?

That’s the thing. I work when she’s at daycare. I work like a horse. I don’t have time to walk around the city for no apparent reason. If I were to exert the effort to go on a train and go to the city, there has to be a purpose – and it can’t be just one purpose because otherwise I find that’s a waste of time as well.

And no, going out of the house to do the groceries or shop for kids’ stuff is not considered “going out”.

For this one day(ish) and one night of staycation, I plan to dine alone, watch a movie alone, sleep alone and have breakfast in my room alone. I might write. I might walk around and take photos. I might indulge in gourmet chocolates. I might sleep with the TV on (this is a habit I’ve done since I can check in a hotel room on my own – sleep with the TV on CNN). I might have a bath or a mani pedi. I might even do nothing and just be.

But whatever I do, I know this is what I want. I am so looking forward to this.

And if any of you PR people want to sponsor my next staycation, then I so welcome it.

So mums, book your staycations NOW!

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