Third Culture Kid(s)

So, here’s the thing.

I need some ways to unwind - call them “breaks,” call them “rewards” - because up until I got pregnant I was mostly unwinding with food, which isn’t especially constructive.

But I have certain constraints:

1. I do the vast majority of household and childcare work. M. tries, in his way, but he has disability, culture, personality, and circumstances working against him. Things he physically cannot do include handyman kinds of things* and taking the toddler out for a few hours, just the two of them; even if he could figure out a way to wrangle her into the car seat, she’s at that age where she cannot reliably follow directions, and she’s prone to darting off on her own, and M. can’t chase after her. Because he’s “tired” from work and from school (and, arguably, because he’s used to having people do and fetch for him, although you didn’t hear me say it), he’s uninclined to do certain household things, including (but not limited to) giving the toddler baths, putting her to bed at night, getting up with her in the mornings, cooking**, etc.
2. The toddler has been taking 2-3 hour naps lately, up from her old 1 1/2-2 hour naps because the move to the toddler bed precipitated a pattern of waking up at 5:30 every morning, come hell or high water.
3. We come to my parents’ house three days a week, ostensibly for me to work while my mom watches MM. I like to hang out with my mom until lunchtime, which means that I’m not really going to start working until after I’ve eaten. Up until now, I’ve been using the time I’m supposed to be working to mess around online, since this is all the time in the world that I get to myself. But I want to make better use of the time - my mom has been generous with hers, but I think she wants to know that it’s all for a greater good, so to speak.
4. I’m not especially enamored of: long, hot baths (at least, not in a country where the bathtub is shallow and gets cold quickly); candles, scented or otherwise (I HATE candles - it’s a deep-seated childhood fear thing); romantic anythings (much to the chagrin of my hopelessly sentimental husband); most reality television (and, really, what else is there these days??); spas and other money-eating leisure activities (in part because we don’t have a lot of disposable income); cooking for fun; seeking out like-minded people in organized groups (religious or otherwise).

So, given my constraints and the things I’m not likely to try, can anyone suggest some ways to unwind/relax/’reward’ myself? I feel like I really need something to fit into my days in order to feel like at least a little time is my very own; it doesn’t have to be every day, but I need something. Any suggestions??

*But, in the interests of honesty, I will admit that I don’t do these things, either; my Dad has very graciously been keeping up our lawn and attending to household issues since we moved here.

**Since I’ve had morning sickness - which, of course, is worst at night - M.’s been fending for himself pretty well, and he’s even made me a few meals out of his repertoire.  I’m grateful for this.