Real Life in China | Lonely days of a 41-year-old accompanying mom | My day from 5:30 AM to 11:30 PM
About this video
A 41-year-old mother in China shares her quiet, devoted daily routine, from a 5:30 AM start to an 11:30 PM bedtime. The day unfolds through simple acts of care—cooking, grocery shopping, and waiting for her teenage son after school—revealing the peaceful solitude and gratitude that fill her hours. It’s a tender, honest glimpse into the real life of many Chinese parents.
Video transcript
Do you know how hard Chinese high school students and their mothers live? What is the real life of an ordinary family in China like? >> >> Hi, I'm Guang Wan. I'm 41 years old and a mother of a high school student. I get up at 5:30 a.m. every day, feeling sleepy and tired. I quickly wash my face and hands, then head to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Today I cook glutinous rice balls. I mix cornmeal with cold water and pour it into the soup. After boiling it becomes warm cornmeal soup with rice balls. Time is limited and the food is too hot to eat right
away. So, I put the rice balls into cold water to cool them down quickly. I heat a piece of marinated beef heart in the air fryer and cut it into thin slices. >> >> I also pan-fry several slices of steamed buns. I know teenagers usually have little appetite in the morning. Cooking breakfast every day makes me run out of new ideas. My son is tired of the repeated meals. Summer vacation is just around the corner, so we keep it simple these days. When he stays home for vacation, I will cook more nutritious food for him. After breakfast, I send my son to
school. Both of us are exhausted from long-term lack of sleep. He has caught a cold and feels quite weak after 3 days of exams. The school has a strict rule. Students who ask for leave must provide a medical certificate from the hospital. His condition is not serious enough to see a doctor, so we have no certificate. Judging from his state, he can stick it out. Only 2 more days and summer vacation will come. Many students who usually ride bikes are driven to school by their parents on rainy days. So, the roads got congested and we arrived at school a
little late. Worried about being scolded or made to stand as punishment, my son hurried into the school quickly. After sending my son away, the house becomes extremely quiet again. I boiled two eggs and reheat my son's leftovers. This simple meal is my breakfast. Somehow I have lost my desire for delicious food recently. I eat just to fill my stomach. I hope I can cheer up and regain my appetite so that I can cook nice meals for my family and myself. I hear the sound of gongs and drums downstairs. A wedding ceremony is taking place nearby. It's pouring
heavily, so there are hardly any onlookers. In China, weddings must follow an auspicious time. The ceremony has to start on time, rain or shine. There is also an old folk tale here. Some people believe heavy rain on the wedding day means the bride has a bad temper. I can't help feeling sorry for the bride today. She must be feeling upset right now. I have two things to finish today. First, take my son's laptop to clean dust and replace thermal paste. He needs the computer for study and games during summer vacation. I put it off for days and I have to get
it done today. I will also go grocery shopping later. I put on my Chinese style traditional top. It matches the rainy and gloomy weather perfectly, bringing a gentle and melancholic mood. I rarely go out for walks. I always hurry between home and the car park, lacking exercise and outdoor activities. Today the air is fresh after rain, so I decide to take a walk in the community and enjoy the simple scenery. >> >> There are a people outside, which is perfect for a quiet stroll. It helps ease my long-term anxiety. Anxiety among Chinese high school parents
is a common phenomenon, rooted in six overlapping pressures: fierce Gaokao competition, obsession with grades, an uncertain future, parent-child conflict, financial burden, and sleep deprivation. We get up at 5:30 every morning and go to bed at 11:00 p.m., the same schedule as our kids. They study non-stop for 12 days straight, with only 4 days off per month. These 3 years of high school are like fighting a tough battle, when we fight not just for their scores, but for their future, silently standing beside them through every weary day and sleepless
night. I found a beautiful flower abandoned on the grass, and I felt a little sorry for it. I tucked it behind my ear to let it show its beauty again. Finally, I placed it by the water, hoping it could keep its last vitality a little longer. I decided to have lunch in a local snack shop today. I love vegetarian food, and the vegetable pancake here tastes great. One pancake costs 11 RMB, about 1.62 US dollars. We can choose all kinds of vegetables freely, such as wood ear mushrooms, vermicelli, green peppers, and shredded potatoes. You can fill the plate
as full as you possibly can. Every ingredient is fresh and tastes absolutely amazing. The pancake skin is made from whole wheat batter, spread thin on a special griddle. Then add vegetables, flip and fry until well cooked. Finally, fold and cut it into sections. This is a classic snack for my hometown. When I was little, my mother often made it for me. >> Now I live far away and only get to go back once or twice a year. Every bite brings back sweet childhood memories and makes me miss my mother deeply. The pancake is crispy and the vegetables taste
fresh. Cooking at home everyday, having a meal outside occasionally is really a nice change. Then I come to the computer repair shop in an old residential area. Cleaning dust and replacing thermal paste costs 120 RMB, around 17.65 US dollars. The repair will take a long time, so I go to the supermarket first. I'm going to pick up some ingredients today. After checking out, I'll share the exact price of each item, so you can get a clear idea about the local prices here. >> >> Here are the prices of all the items I bought. I wonder if they are higher or
lower compared with prices in your countries. Back home, I rest by the bay window. Loneliness creeps over me again. I have few friends. My old friends are also busy with their own lives. I still feel truly fortunate. My life is peaceful and steady. There are so many people around the world going through hardships. The ordinary days we take for granted are actually what many people long for. I cherish everything I have and stay thankful all the time. After a short rest, I deal with my work and start to cook dinner. I have poor sleep quality and often
suffer from insomnia. Long-term poor sleep and anxiety lead to weakness of the spleen and stomach and insufficient qi and blood, according to traditional Chinese medicine. So, I stick to a light diet, avoiding greasy, spicy, and overly sweet food. Doctor suggests I should not do strenuous exercise, for it will consume more qi and blood. Gentle walking and simple exercises are better for me. Eating ginger regularly is great for health. In summer, it helps warm the stomach, dispel dampness, and boost your energy. I'll fry the eggs first before adding them
to the soup. Fried eggs hold their shape better and add richer flavor to the broth. I think Chinese home cooking is quite simple. Heat the oil first, then add scallions or ginger to release the aroma. After that, just put in the ingredients one by one. Once it boils, add a little salt and white pepper. The soup will taste wonderfully fresh. Add some chopped cilantro on top, and the flavor will be even better. The staple food is steamed buns made with pumpkin and red dates. The dinner tastes fresh and delicious. I enjoy the quiet moment while eating. It's
time to pick up my child again. Day after day, life seems to repeat itself. Sometimes I feel confused, wondering what else I can do besides taking care of my family, but I know this ordinary life is also a kind of happiness. There is always heavy traffic and crowds around the school entrance. Parents arrive early to wait, offering quiet encouragement to their tired children. For us Chinese parents, we never mind waiting longer as long as our kids do not have to. I park my car a little far from the school. Parking here is quiet so I can stretch my body
freely. I see people walking around with flashlights nearby. They're looking for cicada nymphs. The nymphs come out of the soil in summer. Fried cicada nymphs are a popular local snack. One sells for 1.5 RMB, about 0.22 US dollars. In recent years, too many people catch them, so cicadas are becoming fewer and fewer. Every creature has its value in nature. It would be a pity if they disappeared. Looking at tiny ants on the ground, I feel all living creatures are small in this world. It's 10:15 p.m. when I get my son back home. He still has lots of
homework to finish. It is nearly 11:30 p.m. when he finally goes to bed. I can't fall asleep until he rests. It seems I will lose sleep again tonight. Standing in front of the mirror, I see a tired face, but I cheer myself up. Pretty tough day will pass. I believe tomorrow will be better. My day starts again at 5:30 tomorrow morning. Thank you for watching my real life in China. See you next time.
