Hamer woke late and needed extra time to get ready. I found myself rushing her along, but I realized afterward: there’s no real need to hurry over things that matter to her. When we rush, children sense our urgency and often slow down further. We also risk turning a pleasant morning into a tense one. Sometimes it’s better to just let things unfold at their own pace.

In the evening, Hamer wanted to join her friend for an impromptu meal instead of sticking to our original plan. My first instinct was to address this later and set firm boundaries. But then I thought: does this really need to be serious?
From her perspective, she simply spent time with her friend and shared a meal—a joyful moment. There was nothing wrong with it. By lecturing her later, I’d only taint that happy memory.

Today marks my 10th anniversary at the Beijing R&D Center—a milestone I hadn’t realized until my lead reminded me.

I started here as an intern, grew into new roles, and even switched from product engineering to software development. Over the years, I’ve gone from restless to grounded, from chasing goals to following curiosity. This place has seen me through graduation, marriage, and parenthood.

Ten years may sound long, but it feels like a blink—filled with learning, growth, and quiet gratitude.

Last night, Hamer lost her upper left incisor. This time, instead of putting it in her little tooth box, she happily said she would place it under her pillow for the Tooth Fairy to exchange for money. I watched as she carefully slipped it under the pillow in her own room.

After she washed up and fell asleep, I went to check—but the tooth was gone. I guessed she might have moved it to the big bed she actually sleeps in. I searched there too, but couldn’t find it. In the end, I decided to just leave the money under the pillow in her room.

The next morning, Hamer excitedly lifted her pillow to see if the Tooth Fairy had come. Finding nothing, she looked disappointed and said, “So it’s not real after all.” I told her, “Maybe check the pillow in your room?” She rushed off, lifted it, and squealed, “It’s true! I got one yuan!” She held the coin like a treasure.


A moment later, she looked at me and asked, “Was it you?” — I, of course, denied everything.

We took a five-day road trip during China’s National Day holiday, traveling from Beijing to Jin Hai Lake, Jixian, Aranya, and Tangshan. It was a trip filled with laughter, good food, and a sense of calm.

Day 1 – Jin Hai Lake 
I drove carefully at first, making my way to Jin Hai Lake. We set up a canopy and picnic mat on the grass, lazily enjoying the afternoon. Driving through winding mountain roads to the hotel after dark, I didn’t even know how to switch on the high beams and had to follow the car ahead. To our surprise, our room was upgraded to a spacious suite. Dinner at a local restaurant called “Da Lin” was simple but delicious.

Day 2 – Jixian Ancient Town
 After breakfast, the kids played in the indoor playground and made mooncakes. We then headed to Jixian, an ancient town rich in history. Lunch was a hearty pot of stewed fish. We visited Dule Temple and wandered through Yuyang Ancient Street. Parking in the narrow village alley was tricky, but I managed it. The homestay that night was disappointing, but it was just a place to sleep. We had light barbecue for dinner after an overly filling lunch.

Day 3 – Journey to Aranya
 We started the day with a short hike before driving three hours on the highway to Aranya. The hotel was decent, though getting into the gated community wasn’t easy. That night, we planned how to enter the next day and enjoyed seafood—especially the clams, which everyone loved so much we ordered twice.

Day 4 – Aranya
 The morning wind was howling outside. We left around ten and entered Aranya with the help of a “scalper,” which felt a bit like sneaking in. The community had everything—shops, cafes, art—and even though I didn’t do much, it was worth seeing. The kids had a blast on the beach; one got knocked over by waves, the other soaked his pants laughing.

Day 5 – Tangshan and Home
 We slept in, had breakfast, and drove to Tangshan with light traffic all the way. We visited the Earthquake Memorial Park, had lunch at “Tangshan Banquet,” and took a brief stroll near Qiaotou Old Street. As the sun set and the moon rose, we headed home, hearts full and spirits calm.