Unwind? What’s That? A Cup of Sanity, Please.

“Unwind after a demanding day,” they say—like it’s some sort of spa treatment we’ve all booked in advance. For many of us, especially those with kids, demanding days don’t come with a ‘relax’ button. They come with extra dishes, homework sheets, and important storytelling about what Aarav did during tiffin time. But somehow, amidst the glorious chaos, I’ve carved out my version of “unwinding”—a ritual that’s less Zen and more caffeine-fueled survival.

My sacred hour begins with a cup of hot coffee or tea—not self-made, because let’s be honest, self-care sometimes means outsourcing. My mom, the quiet savior of sanity, hands it over like it’s a magic potion. “Here,” she says with the authority of a Jedi Master, “Drink. Survive.”

That first sip? Bliss. It’s the warm hug I didn’t know I needed, the reset button before Round Two of the day begins.

Then comes the circus—also known as my children. I become a referee, a jungle gym, and a stand-up comic all in one. My pre-teen daughter bursts in with tales that sound like Netflix teen dramas but rated G. “Mumma, I almost tripped in assembly today and it was THE most embarrassing moment of my life!” I nod like it’s breaking news, secretly amused that embarrassment once had such adorable benchmarks.

We laugh, we wrestle, sometimes literally, and as bedtime creeps in, I try to steal some moments for myself. A few pages of a book—though the characters now compete with the plot twists from my daughter’s school life. And if the stars align, maybe, just maybe, I watch a movie. By then, my eyelids are in negotiations with gravity.

Still, I cherish it.

Because unwinding doesn’t mean a quiet retreat to the Himalayas. Sometimes, it’s finding stillness in motion, joy in noise, and peace in sticky hugs and half-spilled stories.

As author Nora Roberts said, “If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place.” And if you don’t drink that hot tea while it’s hot? You’ll forget you ever made it.

Thought to ponder: What if unwinding isn’t about escaping the day—but embracing the mess, the magic, and the madness with a smile that says, “I survived… and I’ll do it again tomorrow”?

Now, excuse me. My tea’s cold again. 🫣😜😀