The Terrific3 travel blog

Let me start by saying that I know I’m incredibly lucky and privileged to have a sabbatical and extended time and the means to spend a summer in Asia with my kids. That is not lost on me.

That having been said, I’m struggling with exhaustion. My average sleep per night is a broken 4-5 hours for over a week now as Z keeps waking at 2-3 am and then is up for hours. As I’m a light sleeper sharing a hotel room with my kids, that means I’m up for hours too. Thankfully he can often fall back asleep after 4am but unfortunately I can’t. My body just doesn’t work that way.

I was really looking forward to Phuket and specifically looked for a hotel with a kids’ club. It turns that that it is a glorified preschool playroom with only 1 functioning PlayStation and the other is currently broken. I let the hotel I’m disappointed in what I felt was false advertising as they advise parents to still hang out with the kids in the playroom. Why would I do that? It’s easier for me to sit at the bar by the kids’ pool as I am now.

So I know I just need to pívot my expectations, but I’m used to having a little time alone everyday that it’s hard, especially with one kid who gets dysregulated by anything new and the other who isn’t sleeping. I also remind myself on the scale of 1-10, this is a 3-4 as it could be worse.

This morning I left S playing on the functioning PlayStation and Z came to the gym with me and we both ran on treadmills. Exercise is my savior, even when sleep deprived. And it was honestly a break to only have one kid. S is now old enough to navigate a small hotel on his own so I may just give him a key tomorrow for a couple of hours and let him wander. I’m trying to book a sitter through the hotel but even that is “limited.” I’ll be leaving a clear review about their kid services when I leave, though there definitely are other perks.

Anyways, we got to the beach today and it was GORGEOUS. I’m dreaming of running on this beach, just gotta figure out what to do with the kids while I do it as can’t find a sitter as it would require at least an hour away from the hotel, and their Apple Watches don’t work well here…

Ok wish me luck on my 2 goals—running on the beach, and sleep. I’m really hoping we can do this. We are also not planning any tours while here—just relaxing on the beach and at the pool. It was super fun watching my kids in the ocean and I hope to join them next time if I’m properly dressed and haven’t brought all my stuff with me!