I digress..
My topic for the month of June is the out-of-doors and the food that goes with being outside— camping, picnics, BBQs, etc. Today I’m going to veer off course and talk about support.
Not just any support, but crisis support. Those of you close to me already know this, but last week I woke one morning in excruciating abdominal pain. Fast forward to me needing my gall bladder removed. I have now been home for several days recuperating from the surgery and taking it easy. My mother has been here the whole time taking care of me, my daughter, and our dog. Thank goodness she only lives 20 minutes from me.
What if you don’t have family close by to come to your aid? What’s your plan? G-d forbid like me you end up in the back of an ambulance needing hospital care, who is taking care of you (your advocate at the hospital)? Taking care of your kids? Your home? Pets? In my case, the answer to all of these is my mother. Think long and hard about who you would ask to fulfill these duties, if not your spouse, and remember different duties might require different people.
Most of us, myself included, don’t like to ask for help, and yet sometimes we need to break down and do it. Well, now is one of these times. Talk to your spouse or ask your friends to step in an emergency now so they are prepared and can turn you down if needed (hopefully, not your spouse). Don’t wait until there is a crisis to ask your child’s best friend’s mom to take your kid for a couple of days while you’re in the hospital. And be sure to let people know it is reciprocal.
When a crisis arises, kids can get scared. My daughter, 17, was scared calling her grandmother and then an ambulance. Write the plan down with phone numbers for your spouse, or the friends/family to be called. If you child is old enough, discuss this with them ahead so they are clear on their role, if they have one. My daughter’s role was to listen to her grandmother and help out when asked. And she’s doing just that.
And if your support system is used, be sure to thank everyone and remind them it is reciprocal.
In a way, this article isn’t just a warning call to develop a plan for emergencies, it is also a HUGE thank you to my mom. And she knows it’s reciprocal always.