Flexibility is Key!

My patience is tested daily here in China and unfortunately, I am not the most patient person. I can always tell when my patience supply has diminished because I do not tolerate little things that the kids do. I really try and take a step back, but sometimes, I just cry!! I was very proud of myself on Saturday when I was able to step back and for once, be flexible. If I could just do this more often, life would be so much easier!!

Saturday morning, we were on our way to Beijing to take Danny to the airport for his trip to the US. I decided that the kids and I would go along because the boys were becoming quite furry - they desperately needed haircuts! My agenda was to drop Danny off, go to the kids haircutting salon, do a little toy shopping, have some lunch and then drive back to Tianjin. Plans changed quite quickly when we got to the police check point (they are back to checking cars going into Beijing due to the HUGE National Day celebration they are preparing for on October 1st - it is the 60th year of communist rule). Our driver came back to the car and told me he didn't have the correct numbers on his license plate, so we couldn't go past the third ring road into the city. I really wanted to cry, but knew it would not help the situation. I conjured up plan B...I called my hair salon which is located close to the airport. They were able to squeeze the kids in! I decided I would take them to The Blue Frog restaurant that had opened recently close by for lunch. It was so clean, the food was good and they had a play room with Tom and Jerry on the TV. We were all so happy!! Next we went to a toy shop becuase the kids had earned a small toy - they all found something they wanted!! Then it was on to the salon where, although it wasn't as kid friendly, it still had a motorcycle for the boys to sit on and Ellie enjoyed a 20 minute head massage, and it was about 1/2 the price!! Once again we were all happy! Finally to end our afternoon, I grabbed a Starbucks and the kids played on two huge bouncy slides for 30 minutes. They were completely worn out when we got in the car and we had a nice quiet ride back to Tianjin!!

Hopefully this year I can learn to be more flexible and realize that sometimes plan B is better than plan A anyway!!