Tuesday 17 April 2018

When the kidults come to visit

Child 4 and 4a have been here on their holidays.

Most of the time it's just me and Peter and the cat and dog. Actually a lot of the time, it's just me or Peter and the cat and dog.

I like my own company, but I get bored and lonely. I guess what I actually like is just being able to do my own thing when I want and how I want, something I can't do when we have visitors.

At 46, I'd like to think I'm not old, but spending so much time on my own I get stuck in my ways, I have my own little routines and as Dubai is a vibrant and busy city with 5 tourists per resident, it gets busy, the roads get full, my stress levels go up and I retreat indoors.

The best way to see Dubai and explore the city is by setting off early in the morning. But 4 and 4a are in their early 20's and by comparassion they are party animals, night owls. Dragging them out of bed by 9am and having them ready for the day has been hard work. I've been going to bed later and I'm even more grumpier than usual.

After a day out they want to come home at 4pm, shower, rest, change and go back out at 6pm. I'm ready to get in my pj's by then having entertained all day, I'm hungry and get 'hangry' and having battled my way across Dubai already I really don't feel like doing it again at night when the traffic doubles, the number of people increases and everywhere is mega busy.

'You don't have to stay with us all day, just drop us off and we'll let you know when we want collecting'

So I took them to the Marina for 6pm and collected them at 9pm one evening. Of those 3 hours, I spent 90 mins dropping them off, going home, returning to collect them. During the 90 minutes of 'me time' I emptied the dishwasher, did a load of washing, walked the dog, cleaned the kitchen and swept up piles of sand from the house.

I find having visitors very tiring, I'm not on holiday, housework still needs doing and I have to adjust to being on my own all day, to accommodating others, not being able to just grab my bag and come and go when I choose, eat when I want and go to bed at my time of choosing.

I don't resent having visitors, I just forget what it's like living with other people.

Of course one of the benefits of people visiting is that as their unpaid tour guide, chauffeur and cook. I get free coffees, gifts, treated to dinner and lots of lovely company that I crave in a normal week and I get to book the activities and therefore choose the times and look forward to a day on my own as I send them off on a desert safari from mid day till 10pm. I also get to go places I wouldn't normally go to on my own, do different things and have new experiences.

Sadly when you're an expat with kids living in different countries, it's 'all or nothing' I've been learning to embrace time on my own, I have the freedom to travel to the UK when I want/need to and will be returning to the UK for the summer. Sadly, I still end up doing all the running around and the arranging or I just don't end up going anywhere. Although to be fair to Child 4 and 4a and their parents, they have looked after us very well when we've visited them in Northern Ireland

16 comments:

  1. I have a friend who has emigrated to New Zealand, she went with her husband, because their daughter married a new Zealander, her other daughter's and their families followed, so now the whole family are loving life in a new country #triamphanttales@_karendennis

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    1. wow that's one big happy family and such a huge commitment for them all to move

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  2. But it must be fun to see the grown kids after so much time. Enjoy! #triumphanttales

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  3. LOL I know how you feel. Youngest daughter came home recently for the first time since moving out - and it felt like we'd been hit by a whirlwind! We picked her up from the station and went out for the afternoon, then in the evening she'd arranged to meet her friends in town, said she'd get a taxi home then about 11 texted to ask if she could have a lift. Next day, despite her plans, she slept in late so we had to rush for her to see elder daughter and baby before she caught the train 'home'. To be fair, this would have been fairly normal when she was living here, I just hadn't realised how much we'd settled into a quiet, slowly-paced life! Something new to get used to with the empty-nesting. #tweensteensbeyond

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    1. it's the quiet that hits me the most after they've gone home

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  4. I am wondering how it would be when my kids have flown the nest and then visit us. I am also not used to having too many visitors at home. It sort of disrupts the routine. I hardly have time to take anyone sightseeing. Don't feel in the mood most often plus so much work as well. Hope you are able to enjoy.

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    1. child 4 and 4a have taken me exploring the area where they live and a bit further afield and we're hoping to visit another child in Australia next year and explore there,

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  5. I can see how the all or nothing situation comes as a bit of a shock. I am reeling when all three of my girls are home for the holidays. I also end up as cook and housemaid, although I am learning to delegate more. Thanks so much for joining us at #TweensTeensBeyond

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    1. I didn't really have to do anymore housework than usual but I was really tired from my afternoon naps being disrupted lol

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  6. Suzanne what a wonderful smiley picture! We all miss our teens+ when they are away but when they are back it's definitely a big shock to the system. However, it's a small price to pay for some fun family times. So lovely to see you looking so happy. #TweensTeensBeyond

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    1. we had so much fun, despite my moaning lol

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  7. Well first of all, congratulations to 4 and 4a on their recent news. Of course, the way you describe the business of Dubai sounds awful and I don't think many, when faced with a choice, would want to be the tour guide at busy hours. I see where you are coming from - it's feast or famine for you with the visitors and then suddenly you are on your own again. Glad to hear you are coming back to the UK #tweensteensbeyond

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    1. hopefully i can have a rest when I'm in the UK and just enjoy our eldest wedding in june

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  8. It must be lovely to see your kids though? At least it's not a permanent arrangement. Thanks for joining in with #TriumphantTales, hope to see you back again tomorrow.

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    1. I don't know how I would cope if they came back home on a permanent basis

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