Let me, help you, help me

So, since I've got S1, people are often reluctant to ask me for help. This drives me nuts. If I feel too stressed, I will simply tell you no, sorry I can't right now. But call me again. They feel like I have so much on my plate with a baby and with S1, but I need to give too!

I do have a lot going on and consequently I often need help, especially those times when Dave is gone a lot. When I am the one always asking but never giving, it makes me feel bad. I have a lot to contribute.

Today I was talking with a friend who had left me a message earlier in the day. Her husband has been at boot camp for the past three weeks and they have three kids ages four and under. Almost needless to say she was at her wits end this particular day. She's usually very mild mannered but she was unable to maintain her composure while we spoke on the phone when dealing with her two year old son. Now, if you've ever had a two year old, and you've been with them 24/7 as their primary care giver, you know how draining that can be. Anyway, I told her just to come over and I would make dinner and she could just relax and our kids could just play. She was reluctant and didn't want to add to my burden. I seriously had to convince her that it was alright, that if she came over my family would actually get dinner before 7 pm. I knew that no one was in any danger, just trying to save a friend's sanity and her children's tender feelings.

Anyway, they came over, the kids ran amok, we talked while I made meatloaf, squash and a salad. She brought an apple pie she had made the day before. So we had a very delicious meal, the kids got worn out so they could go home, bathe and go to bed, and she had some time to decompress. It makes me laugh how sometimes people are so reluctant to receive help, after all, this is the same friend who watched S2 every week while I volunteered in S1's preschool class and has watched the boys for me on numerous other occasions- I owed her one, two, more than I can remember! I was glad to have a chance to serve.