You'll find hundreds of files on cleft lip, cleft palate here on widesmiles.org.
This one is about: When Someone says, "Is There Anything I can do to Help?"
(c) 1998 Wide Smiles
This Document is from WideSmiles Website - www.widesmiles.org
Reprint in whole or in part, with out written permission from Wide Smiles
is prohibited. Email: widesmiles@aol.com
WHAT TO SAY WHEN SOMEONE SAYS, "IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP?"by Joanne Green
As I am getting ready for surgery number umpteenth for one of my kids (and realizing that umpteen and one is not much different than number one was) I am pondering ways to respond to the question, "Is there anything I can do to help?" I thought it would be fun to put a list together of things other people can do to help, so that when they offer, we could just refer to the list. (You know how you just can't think of a thing when the offer is made, and we just say something like, "Well, I can't think of anything right now, but thanks for the offer."? Well, here's a list to jog your memory.)
"Why yes, thank you very much. You would be a really big help if you could........
- Take my other kids to the park/swimming pool/movies/DZ/etc. with your kids today.
- Come by for an hour or so and watch my baby while I take a bath and get some rest.
- Vacuum my living room/wash a load of dishes/help me get the laundry into the machine, etc.
- Bake up a casserole that I can give my family for dinner.
- Pick up this short list of groceries from the store.
- Drive my child to soccer practice/piano lessons/school/etc. so she won't have to miss this week.
- Come hold my baby for a while so I can take a break.
- Bring over some herbal tea so we can share a pot together.
- Run to the drug store for me to pick up some more Tylenol/Neosporin/, another oral syringe, etc, or pick up my prescriptions for me.
- Take this list of phone numbers and let these concerned friends and family members know that the surgery is over, the baby is doing fine, and I will call them all myself when I find the time.
- Go online and print out my cleft-talk messages so I can read them at my leisure.
- Come on over for an hour or so. I need the company during the day.
- Now that I know what my baby will eat, could you go to the store for me and get a whole BUNCH of it!
- Tell me again that this will all be over in two weeks. Tell me again that this will all be over in two weeks. Tell me again that this will all be over in two weeks. Tell me again....
- Please be my watchdog - come by to check on me and make sure I am eating right, getting enough sleep, showering regularly, etc.