The Terrific3 travel blog

We flew to Phuket today. Here we are after a 2 hour plane ride and an hour drive to the hotel.

Part of the reason I came here was to be by ocean. The other was that this place has a “kids’ club.” It’s the Novotel Phuket resort. The kids club is a joke—it’s a dingy room with preschool sized tables and a PlayStation in a corner, with no real attendant, except during “classes.” My kids immediately refused to go, though I did sign them up for activities tomorrow morning from 10-12. I had to explain to them that mommy just needs some me time. Though I do feel guilty, and I also think this is a fun place to explore with them. But I know that when I do give myself those 2 hours, I come back refreshed and a much better mom.

The hotel overall is pretty nice. The dinner was phenomenal, and we sat inside because my kids wanted to avoid mosquitos but I bartered with them to have the rest of the dinners outside as the sunset was gorgeous. And how many times do you get to have dinner in Phuket with a view of the beach and sunset?

S is feeling stressed and having a hard time with the change. He usually needs his own space to regulate and doesn’t like it when we are all in a hotel room together. He doesn’t want to be quiet when his brother is going to bed, yet wants his brother to be quiet in the morning as he sleeps in. His rigidity had led to some frustrating moments for all of us, but I have to remind myself that he’s come far from a couple of years ago, I was able to talk to him about it in the evening and asked him what was stressing him out. He said it was the small hotel room. Then we talked about what we get that is positive here—3 pools, amazing breakfast and dinner, and a beach. I’m having the kids journal everyday and he later wrote these things in his journal—how he didn’t like the small room but liked the pools and the food. So maybe he’s actually listening to me? He also hates the idea of the kids’ club, and I don’t blame him as almost 10 is a hard age. I offered for him to stay in the hotel room and I would get a sitter for Z if he preferred. He’s going to think about it. They are too young to be left together alone for too long, and they often fight so it’s not safe.

I’m hoping we’ll be able to sink our toes into sand tomorrow morning. We got here too late tonight to walk over to the beach, but I definitely want to feel the water of the Andaman sea tomorrow. It’s so gorgeous!

Hopefully this entry reminds me and all that are reading that travel with kids has its ups and downs, and is not all rainbows and unicorns. Today was such a day, though thankfully it was at least started after a good full night’s sleep for all. Good night from Phuket and we enter Friday morning soon.