The Diary Game [17/09/2025] // Balancing Rest, Family and Routine in Cameroon 🇨🇲

Steem greetings from the motherland, Cameroon! Welcome once again to my blog, where I share snippets of my lifestyle with you all.

Although it was a weekday, I had the day off from work and was grateful for the opportunity to rest a bit, especially since the kids were at school.

My typical school day begins quite early as I wake up at 4:30 AM to prepare the kids for school. That morning was no different. After getting them ready, they left at 6:30 AM when the school bus arrived. Once they were off, I managed to get a little more sleep before heading to the local market for some grocery shopping.

The market is close to my home, so I walked there. The sun was intense, so I wore a face cap to protect myself from the heat. On my way, I ran into an old classmate. We exchanged greetings, though not too warmly, as we had not been particularly close back in school.

When I arrived at the market, I was shocked by how much prices had gone up, a result of the ongoing lockdown. Thankfully, my town isn’t strictly observing the lockdown measures, which makes things a bit easier.

I bought everything I needed and returned home. Once back, I unpacked the groceries, sorted them, and cleaned the vegetables and green spices. I chopped them neatly and stored them in a ziplock bag for later use.

After that, I prepared lunch before the kids returned from school around 3:00 PM. I met them at the gate as the school bus dropped them off. After helping them change and cleaning their shoes, they opted to take a nap, planning to wake up at 6:00 PM to do their homework. Since they had eaten lunch at school, they weren’t hungry, one of the many things I appreciate about their school. It takes a load off my shoulders knowing they receive well-prepared meals during the day.

While they rested, I took a shower and joined them for a short nap. Later in the evening, I watched the Champions League match between Chelsea and Bayern Munich. Sadly, it was a tough opening game for Chelsea. I was cheering for them, but it quickly became clear that Bayern was dominating. Their control of the game was unmatched, and Chelsea couldn’t shift the tempo.

I eventually stopped watching and focused on helping the kids with their homework. Afterward, I tucked them into bed early so we could all be up in time the next morning for another early school run.

Although it was technically a day off, it certainly didn’t feel like one. I stayed busy with household chores and barely had time to rest a true reflection of the African mother’s lifestyle. We often sacrifice our own rest to ensure everything is in order for the family.

Until my next diary entry, I wish you all a peaceful and joyful weekend ahead!