This morning, I observed my daughter, Mia, struggling with her socks. They were inside out, and she was determined to turn them the right way and put them on by herself. I offered a gentle hand, but her response was all too familiar: “No! I can do it myself!” It’s said that as parents, we often see our own childhood traits reflected in our children. Hearing her defiant words reminded me of how frustrating I must have been to my own parents at her age—and how that stubbornness still plagues me as an adult.
I often find myself acting like a robotic version of a mom, plastering on a smile and insisting that I don’t need help. I can manage getting the kids to school on time, feeding the baby through the night, packing lunches, cooking homemade dinners, and engaging in fun activities with the children—all on my own! Seriously, I’ve got this! Except, of course, when I don’t.
A Tough Week
The reality is, I had a tough week. My partner, Tom, was away on a business trip from Monday to Friday. While he has been away before since our little one, Lily, was born, this was the first time he was gone for so long without the usual support from family and friends. I was alone with all three kids, constantly “on” day and night, like the human equivalent of a 24-hour news cycle. I was running on fumes, repeating myself, and trying to keep it all together.
By noon on Monday, I realized I needed to lower my expectations. Sure, I might get the laundry done, but it would just pile up around the house. We might catch the school bus, or we might not. Dinner would happen, even if it meant serving scrambled eggs repeatedly. When Mia asked why we weren’t doing anything special during our day together, I explained that I was exhausted from lack of sleep. Yet, I still mustered the energy to bake cookies with her, and we managed to make six hamantaschen for Purim. It wasn’t a lot, but we did it together.
Accepting Help
However, by Wednesday, I understood that my mantra of “lowered expectations” wasn’t enough. I needed to take a more radical step: accepting help. The thought of asking for assistance was daunting, almost as frustrating as watching Mia wrestle with her socks. Yet, when our neighbor offered to walk my son, Jake, to the bus stop, I said yes. When a friend called to offer dinner, I accepted. Those two nights of delicious food were a blessing—maybe even one breakfast too.
I even allowed another friend to bring Mia home from piano class, and when a different friend offered to cuddle Lily so I could enjoy a hot cup of coffee, I said yes again. Just that one little word transformed my week. It’s humbling to realize it took me 36 years to grasp this simple concept. Saying yes to help was life-changing and got me through to Friday, the moment Tom returned home, understanding that I needed a brief escape.
As I grabbed my keys, I called upstairs, “Need anything?” He replied, “Just you.” “That’s easy,” I responded, “I’ll go get her. Be back in an hour.” I need him, I need her, and I need all of them. Yes.
Resources for Parents
For more insights into home insemination and parenting challenges, check out our articles on home insemination kits and explore this excellent resource for pregnancy and home insemination. If you’re looking to understand the impact of sugar on fertility, visit this authority on the topic.
Conclusion
In summary, accepting help is essential for parents, especially during challenging times. This simple act can alleviate stress and remind us that we don’t have to do everything alone.