Thanking The ‘People Who Help Us’

Rachel Cole - 6 Dec 17

After 5 years as a mother I have come to realise that any childcare arrangement only lasts on average 18 months before it needs a rethink. I’m a working mum and I love my job and going to work.

Fortunately I have a fantastic employer that understands work-life balance and the importance of employee mental health. Being a mother comes first. But being a working mother means I keep my sanity, follow my passion and maintain my career. Believe me, I’ve had the working mother debate (with friends and with myself) many times over- this post is not the place for that.

However in order to be parents who work my husband and I have developed an elaborate support network which include several ‘people who help us’. We have learnt to delegate. We have learnt to ask for, and to accept help.

This means some of the shitty jobs (like cleaning the shower grout) gets done (but not by us). And that some of the essential jobs (like picking our daughter up from school twice a week) gets done (but not by us). This team of people who help us means we are able to work and helps us to be the best parents we can be.

I’ve been avidly following the blog posts and Instagram feeds which list Christmas gift guides for children, partners, grandparents and mums. But so far I haven’t seen anyone listing gifts they’ve bought or suggestions of what to get the ‘people who help us’.

If you’re a busy parent you might find my list below useful as a reminder to thank the people that help you this festive season to show how much you appreciate everything they do.

Don’t forget to thank:

Class Teacher

Teaching Assistant

Key Worker at Nursery

Nursery staff room

After School Club staff

Extra curricular activities teachers (Brownies, Cubs, Swimming, Dancing, Music Teacher, etc)

Neighbours, Friends, others you call upon to babysit

And a few others you might forget:
Cleaner

Ironing person

Gardener / handyman

Hairdresser / beautician / salon you go to for essential maintenance

Posty

Bin men (no word of a lie my Grandpa used to give the bin men beer every Christmas!)

Milkman (do they even exist anymore?)

Veg box deliverer (maybe this is going too far?!)

I’ve got a stack of small gifts (chocolates, booze, posh biscuits and gorgeous stationary mainly) ready to wrap for my fantastic support network so I’ll sign off with a huge festive THANK YOU to all the ‘people who help us’, please keep on helping us to be the best parents we can be!

Rachel Cole

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