Offers of help

People keep saying, "let me know if there's anything I can do to help".
What help have you needed and what " help" has helped the most?
Single Mum, 5yr old with developmental delays and ASD, no family available, new to the area, limited amount I can ask of friends. Don't want to feel like I'm using people or taking advantage. I have no idea what I will need, what I can ask for.
I've done up a card with my contact phone and email that says, "What can you do, What one thing", as I figure if someone loves cooking, asking for a meal I can freeze is ideal. If they can sew, making cotton caps for during chemo is fantastic.
Any suggestions?
What help have you needed and what " help" has helped the most?
Single Mum, 5yr old with developmental delays and ASD, no family available, new to the area, limited amount I can ask of friends. Don't want to feel like I'm using people or taking advantage. I have no idea what I will need, what I can ask for.
I've done up a card with my contact phone and email that says, "What can you do, What one thing", as I figure if someone loves cooking, asking for a meal I can freeze is ideal. If they can sew, making cotton caps for during chemo is fantastic.
Any suggestions?
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here is a calendar that BCNA put together with our input about what helps us. when we are going through treatment.
Here is a little list I thought might be good
- someone to come and give you some respite
- someone to take your son for a playdate if he is up to that, or visiting so he is getting some outside stimulation
- Someone to weed the garden or mow
- Maybe some ladies who are willing to be on a roster to take you to appointments.
- Do you have a breast care nurse she could point you in the direction of some services.... I know our local cancer council helped to pay for some massages and regular cleaning for me. it depends on their funding I think
- Do you have any family support even via phone or internet connection?
- community transport if you need help getting to appointments.
- These are just a few.
HugsAlice
Little things like if you strip your bed on the morning they are due and get the sheets in the wash and fresh ones on the edge of the bed - they can remake the bed and hang out the wet washing. Depending on where you are at with recovery hanging wet washing can be a no no!
Do you have a community Health in your area - they will soon find drivers for appointments et cetera and give you contacts for other domestic duties that you can't manage in the early days
Take care
Found the link for the fabric swim caps
http://www.nammuhats.com/shop/
My son was 13 at the time; at least his school uniforms looked presentable--he was old enough to put a load of washing on but ironing was a step too far. By that stage I couldn't have cared if he went to school in his PJs so that simple act of kindness really meant a lot.
I felt awkward accepting this help - but decided I would accept anything that was offered to me.
The other thing was my cleaner and another friend offered to do the ironing. That was a hard one, but well worth accepting...and of course, a few friends offered to drive me to appointments or take me out for coffee.
In the end, I felt very very blessed to have this support and certainly much more comfortable accepting it next time.
About 6 months afterwards, I asked the Otis Foundation if we could have one of their places for a few days and they gave me their beautiful Daylesford spot: and I asked any of the girls who were on the food bank to come. It was my way of saying 'thank you'. I'll do the same thing this time round