Do You Ask For Help?

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How do you ask people for help? Are you able to just ask for exactly what you want and or need? Do you hint at what you want? Do you passively mention things until the point where you scream and shout? Are you a person who doesn't really need help? 

Now that school is out for summer, my boys are non - stop. There is no down time to load the dishwasher, cut a lemon for my morning lemon water, make coffee... they are non - stop. I am one of those mothers who starts doing one thing, doesn't finish and then starts doing something else completely different -take breakfast for example- here I am getting bowls...then three different cereals....by the time the cereal is in the bowls the boys are going, "mom I think you forgot the milk." I reply, "I am getting you the milk but first I have to put the cereal box down and walk to the refrigerator!" (in reality I am walking towards the refrigerator but then I stop to look at the calendar and check the weather app on my phone) I pour the milk then I start making coffee. Not a second later someone starts, "MOM THE SPOONS!" Me- "Ahhhhh, get them yourselves!!! I need to make coffee!!!!!"

I was with my girlfriend, Meg, the other day and she made such a great point. How is this generation not already called "generation demand?" I laughed but seriously that would be a fitting description. Take Jack for example, whenever he is watching a show and a commercial comes on he immediately runs to me and says, "Mama! Over! More!" I have to constantly reassure him that it is just a commercial and more Paw Patrol will be on soon! 

Don't get me wrong I am having an awesome summer with the boys. We joined a little swim club up the street and I have been lucky enough to have my cousin help me with the boys a few days a week but it's the everyday things that are getting to me. Soooooo, I spoke up. I wasn't exactly sure how to ask but I did. After dinner the other night as I was clearing the plates I tapped Mike on the shoulder. He turned and I spoke. 

"Hey, do you think in the mornings you could help me a little bit? Nothing super crazy but do you think you could make the coffee or unload the dishwasher before you leave for work? Honestly, I would settle for you just cutting a lemon in half so I can make my lemon water." He did one of those "awe laughing" kind of faces and immediately said, "yes." The next morning he had made the coffee, he unloaded the dishwasher, and he made my lemon water. I was in shock! What was I going to do with all of this extra time?!?! Well, I will tell ya, I sat down and watched GMA! That night when he came home from work I told him I was so thankful for the help but he didn't have to do everything..."I don't want you to burn out so pace yourself, Mike." Again, he laughed.