Well today has been a very insightful day. I was at work looking after a 20month old. The day was going well except for the usual aches and pains!
So we decided to go for a nice walk, we wrapped up warm! Toddler had on her new fleece lined waterproof trousers and her new thick coat, think Michelin man (there is a reason I am telling you this) but on a smaller scale and much prettier!
So off to the park we go, once there I get her out of the pushchair and let her have a run around! She was having a great time, she fell over a few times and I noticed that she was struggling to get up again, due to the waterproof trousers restricting her movement! But she was determined and she managed it! After about 20 mins she was starting to get tired and she fell over just in front of me, I watched as she tried to move her legs and feet into a good position to be able to stand again, but she was struggling it was just too much effort, she sat back down looked up at me and said "HELP PEAS" at which point I bent down and lifted her to her feet and she toddled off! I stood there thinking about what had just happened and realised, that little lady taught me something! Something that I would still be thinking about this evening!
So what did she teach me?
She showed me that even though she was more than capable of getting herself back up on her feet eventually, it was easier and quicker to ask for help! She didn't waste 5 or 10 minutes of her playtime trying to find the energy to get up, she just asked! So simple, so easy......and yet for me and I'm sure many of you so hard!
Why do we as adults find it hard to ask for help, why do we push our bodies and minds to breaking point before we say those two simple words "Help Please" She hasn't even mastered talking properly yet, but she made it clear that although she was able to get up on her own, on this occassion she needed help and it was okay to ask for it!
When I think back to how many times throughout treatment I said "no thanks", "I can manage", when someone offered to help with something! Even now when I'm having a bad day and I am exhausted I won't accept help! WHY? Because I feel I am failing I feel I SHOULD be able to do these things, I feel I'm being pathetic! But the reality is, if I accepted the help when it's offered or even asked for help. I might just have the extra energy to enjoy my "playtime"!
So today I learnt that Toddlers are pretty smart cookies and maybe we need to take a leaf out of their book! Thanks A xxxx
