Asking for Help

March 28, 2022

To Mama,

Asking for and accepting help is the one of most vulnerable and difficult actions you can engage in; only becoming more difficult as we grow older and we find ourselves weaving in and out of our comfort zones while our roles and responsibilities change and the relationship with ourselves and our loved ones adapt and evolve to these changes.

This weekend we needed help. On Friday both my husband and our baby girl had a fever, low grade but it knocked my husband off his feet and our baby girl needed some extra lovin and some extra sleep. After a good night’s rest, she was back to herself by the next day. My husband on the other hand, had a tougher transition back to normalcy; feeling better early Saturday but completely wiped by Saturday afternoon. And Mama, felt fine Friday, helped everyone, made soup, cleaned, Saturday eh, low grade fever in the afternoon but Sunday morning came and wow, knocked off my feet.

Sunday morning I reached out to my mama. I was so frustrated, so exhausted and achy and it all made me emotional. I needed sleep, time to rest my body because that’s what it needed and baby girl needed engagement, fun, attention and care. My mom and dad came to our rescue and we appreciated it more than words could say. After bringing baby girl to my parents I knocked out for the next two hours, rested in bed well into the afternoon and moving only when my body felt ready.

Asking for help takes courage, even when it’s asking my parents, who I see at least three times a week and we have a very good relationship and they offer to help! Why then does it take courage?

Well I take a lot of pride in doing things myself and it’s no different when it comes to taking care of my family. I feel like I should be able to take care of my family and take care of me too. I should be able to do it all.

I was wrong.

I can’t do it all and thankfully, I have family who can step in and share the weight with us. After I rested I felt a lot better, not 100% but frustration had passed, exhaustion at bay and ready to be the mama I wanted to be again.

To all the mama’s who feel like they have to do it all, I encourage you to ask for help, when you can. There may come a time when your baby needs more than you can give, like mine did today. A little pause in being a mama for me today meant I would have the strength to be the mama she needed when I picked her up from Mima & Grandpa’s house.

Be strong, be courageous and trust that there are those who have your best interest at heart.

With love,

a great mama