5/03/2007

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.

18 comments:

Daisy said...

I hope your grandpa's surgery goes well and he recovers quickly. I loved this list. You are so very thoughtful.

Dragonheart, Merlin, Devi, and Chloe said...

Those are great ideas Hendrix! :) Very thoughtful! All of those can definitely help someone out.

I hope your grandpa's surgery goes well and that he has a quick recovery. Sending lots of healing purrs his way.

Tiki, Kirby, and StanLee said...

We hope your Grandpa feels better soon. Sending him purrs.

Those are some very good ideas. Definitely Hendrix, not Bendrix.

We must be on the same wavelength for #1. Our Grandma isn't really able to get out much due to her health. She doesn't really need more "things" and it's hard for her to go to a restaurant, so Mommy just got her a pizza delivery place gift card to put in her Mother's Day card. She only weighs 85 pounds, so Mommy keeps trying to "fatten her up". She's a really picky eater, but thankfully still likes pizza.

Oscar the Puppy Cat said...

This is the most thoughtful, considerate list I've ever seen. As a person who has been this, all of these things are so true! Hendrix, you deserve the good kitty award!

The M's said...

great list, we hope that your Grandpa recovers quickly.

Zippy, Sadie, Speedy and M'Gee said...

Wow, what a grate list. Mom duz stuff fur da older lady next door and duzent wate fur her to ask eether. If'n yoo gots older beans in yoor nayborhood ASK IF DEY NEED SUMFING! Sometimes dey will say no but will smile reely big cuz someone asked!

Zippy, Sadie, Speedy and M'Gee said...

Oh, and we will purr fur yoor grampa to heel up reely fast.

Skeezix the Cat said...

This is a vary good list. Yer vary thotfull! I hope yer grampa gits well qwik.

Tink said...

My sister had a hernia a few years ago and I helped her any way I possibly could. She is always good to me and that way I could do something for her.
Nice to meet you, Mr. Hendrix! My kitties Freyja and Bastet send their love!
Thanks for visiting my TT.

Toffee K. Ripple Fuzzypants & Feline American Angels said...

Those are furry helpful ideas. You are so thoughtful, Mr. Hendrix. Wish your grampa a speedy recovery.
DMM

Just Ducky said...

Those are all very good ideas Hendrix. Hope the surgery goes well and speedy recovery.

Milton said...

Those are great ideas!
When a friend of mine had a baby a few months ago, I made a couple of dinners that I froze in 2 serving portions and took over to put in their freezer. just a few min in the microwave and a homemade dinner was ready. it was a big hit!
---Beezer's mombean

MaoMao said...

What great ideas! Wishing your Grandpa good luck for his surgery.

=^..^= said...

We hope your Grandpa gets well soon after a successful surgery. We're sending him our loudest healing purrs!

~Bombay & Bangles

mister jeter harris, hizself said...

deer mr. h,
dis wuz a eksellent tt. i did notice, however, dat u left owt ... "deliver sum tuna juice." it'z alwayz a treet.
i'll be thinkin uv yer grandpa nex week. hope hiz surgery goes well an he'z up fer sum tuna juice soon!
luv--yer grate frend--jh

Catzee said...

You are a furry nice kitty Mr. H. An' helpful too.

Memories of Eric and Flynn said...

This is a furry good and thoughtful list. We wish yer Grandpa a speedy recovery.

Forty Paws said...

Those are wonderful ideas Bendrix! We can tell your Mom is a very thoughtful and caring person. Do you have Super Suppers or some of the other meal prep places where you're at? Those are great to buy pre-made frozen entrees and give them to recovering people.

Luf, Us