Thursday 3 November 2011

Staycationing is the new Expat black...

It's half term here in our corner of Expatville and unlike most of our peers, we did not head for the hills the moment the school bell rang last Friday afternoon. We stayed put, brave and trusty souls that we are and have been forging our way through the wasteland that is Moscow without school, scheduled activities or - crucially -playdates.

Oh, who am I kidding? It's been brilliant. We have got up late, hung out, unpacked boxes (for yes, Potski-watchers, we have moved house), and generally had a really really relaxing week. When I think of the alternative - packing suitcases, rushing for the airport, flights, picking up hire cars and moving from pillar to post for 6 days - I am so happy we have just stayed put.

And the best thing?

The Boys are loving it. Sure, there have been a few utterances of 'I'm bored!' but judicious application of board games, stories, football, monster sessions in the playground (guess who was the monster...) and yes, the odd session of playing on ds's and watching dvd's (don't judge me - there's only so much roaring and racing around that a monster-mother can do) has soon sorted that. It's been a fantastic example of how children really don't need their time scheduled to the nth degree, and how well they can react to needing to entertain themselves.

Obviously I'm not intending that we should never go on holiday ever again. But on Monday, when my sons return to school rested, delighted to be back with their friends and ready for the second half of the term, and are surrounded by jetlagged and exhausted children who have spent the last week racing around the globe, I have to admit that I won't be sorry we stayed put this time around...

5 comments:

  1. I know what you are saying. I do love travelling, but there is nowhere quite like home is there?

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  2. So true. We stayed put this half term and it was marvellous.

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  3. Am totally with you on this. Esp for the autumn term as my kids are definitely more tired after the shock of returning to school after the long summer break. We were with my parents for a couple of days and then home for the rest and we all felt so well for a few days doing nothing.

    BM x

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  4. Sounds to me like you are really settling into Moscow life (and not escaping at the first possible chance) - and moving house too; well maybe you'll be staying longer?

    We don't get half term here - although there are 6, not consecutive, days off in November, which is just ridiculously disruptive.

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  5. I totally get what you are saying. We have in the past cursed Christmas holidays because we are living out of bags, going from one family to the other and back again making sure that both sets of parents get an equal share of grandchildren time, and it can be... well, crap... and we start to imagine what it might be like if we could just have Christmas in our own apartment in Berlin, and sleep in our own beds, or even have the luxury of the other brothers or sister of being able to leave after dinner and go back to their own houses and just relax. Ah... to dream!

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