Thursday 13 - How to help

My grandpa is going in for double hernia surgery next week and we've been trying to think of ways to help him and grandma out. That got us to thinking about all the times we've said "let us know how we can help you" instead of just taking it upon ourselves to come up with something. It doesn't even have to be a surgery thing, it can be when beans are feeling down, or working a lot. There are a squillion ways we can help each other, but here are 13 mommy and I came up with.

1. Order food delivered. This is nice because they don't have to worry about company or anything. The pizza guy delivers and they can eat at their leisure. Lotsa pizza places also have salads and soda too so they can get a full dinner. Sweet Brandi loved her hamm pizza last Friday sos we know this idea works. My aunt & uncle ordered a buncha pizza, pasta and soup from LaRosa's for my mommy and daddy when she had her sinus surgery and it was really nice.

2. Offer to walk their woofie(s) or take them to a dog park. If you go over to visit, scoop the litter box. It is just one less thing they have to do.

3. Clean their house, or at least the bathrooms. It doesn't have to be perfect, but when someone is recovering, it is hard to keep up on housework. Bring your own supplies (so you don't have to keep running in to ask where stuff is) and do a little tidying up. If they have a yard and garden, you can help keep this tidy too. Mow if you can, weed or pick dead heads off flowers.

4. Visit. But always call and get an OK first. Don't just show up. While you're there, listen. Sometimes people recovering don't get to talk to many people because their spouse is at work all day or people are afraid to call. They may just want to talk about their soap opera, but it is important to them, so listen.

5. Put together a care package of magazines, crossword puzzles, CANDY and a TV Guide. Don't forget a pencil for those crossword puzzles.

6. Call. Check in to see how they are even if you don't get to talk to them personally. They'll be happy to know you remember.

7. Rent them some funny movies from a local video store. You can drop by a second time to pick up the movies and return them.

8. Take their kids out. Yes, baby blurpy things and little sticky fingers can be, well loud, but imagine how loud they are if you were recovering from surgery. A day at the local kids museum, park or the movies would be a nice treat for the kids and some quiet time for the parents.

9. Send cards. Mail is ususally no fun, bill...bill...junk...bill... When a person is feeling down, a pretty, or funny card can make them smile.

10. Take the person out. If a person feels down, a quiet lunch (no forced conversation please!!) can be a nice change of pace.

11. We said it before, but it is important. Listen. Really listen.

12. If you're asked for help, BE THERE. It is difficult for beans to ask for help so if you get a request, do whatever you can to deliver.

13. Think good thoughts. You don't have to be a religous person, or pray to a particular god, to send good, healing, comfort vibes through the air. We've seen time and time again how this helps.