- Make your offer specific. Say, “I would like to come over Monday at 3:00 to bake cookies,” “read you a book,” “clean your kitchen,” “…wash your windows,” or whatever. If you say, “Call me anytime for anything,” I won’t know what you want to do or when you are free, so I probably won’t ask.
- When I was very ill, a group of friends gave me the wonderful gift of a maid for a month. They hired a women to clean my house and handle other domestic duties once a week.
- Offer to do something for my children: play with them, tutor them, or take them to the park or to see their grandparents.
- Offer to take my children overnight, or offer to baby-sit even if my spouse and I stay home. This gives us some freedom in our home.
- Offer to drive me where I need to go. I may be too tired or too distracted to drive.
- Offer to decorate my house for Christmas or a birthday party.
- Phone me when you go to the grocery store to see if I need anything. (I feel so helpless when my family needs or wants something, and I have to ask my friends for another favor.)
- When I miss a special program or event in which my child is participating, please take pictures or a video. This allows me to share the experience with him or her.
- Offer to do personal errands and chores for me:
water plants
tidy up my house or apartment
drop off/pick up dry cleaning
wash my car and/or fill up gas tank
bring my mail to the hospital
ask me for a list of my errand needs - Offer to write thank-you or other types of notes for me. (I want to show gratitude to those who have helped my family and me, but I am too tired and weak.)
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