For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for March 13, 2020

swell

Ahhh. Yes. That’s the best. Any mother will agree.

What great friends.

Not good nights and weekends are any holiday

Wow, now that’s a gift she’ll really use!

How thoughtful!

M an if I ever get pregnant I hope I have friends like these

When my girls were born – both times – the ladies at our church took turns bringing us a hot meal every night for 2 weeks. Especially thoughtful as both births were c-sections.

I think the best thing to say to someone in need or in hard times is simply, “How can I help.” Then the best thing to do is look around and be helpful.

The gift that keeps on giving. When my best friend gave birth, I came to visit for two weeks after her parents left and her husband went back to work. I spent the days doing washing, cooking, taking her for walks, and just sitting around being company when she was feeling nervous about doing things ‘right’. I couldn’t afford much of a gift, but I was so glad to have time.

Lynn’s Comments:

I have given this as a gift a number of times and it has always been appreciated.

When my son was born, my mother in law came over. She cleaned my house top to bottom – doing all the things I hadn’t been able to do for months & were driving me crazy. Even scrubbed & resealed kitchen grout ( white grout on white tile in a KITCHEN – only a guy would have designed that!) SHE is the BEST ever!

That IS the best gift you can give.

Several months before the baby was due, my mom and dad gave us a stand up freezer for the basement. Then my mom came for a week to cook soups and casseroles for the freezer. After she left, I continued to stock it and she also cooked after the baby was born. I didn’t have to cook for that first year! It was all favorites in there and we sometimes grilled burgers or something too. Works best with the freezer which you defrost yourself so it’s not always drawing moisture from the food. Freezer and food-best gifts ever!

Read the small print…“YOU babysit ANNE’S KIDS at her place for one hour.”

I didn’t know this kind of coupons existed.

Watch her redeem all 30 all at once.

In the olden days the children would help mom in this. Duty was to home first.

These are both things that would have been easy for Lynn Johnston in 1991 to relate to. She had a full-time housekeeper/cook who would make meals for the family that could be prepared when she was not there. As for the babysitting, Lynn’s in-laws, Ruth and Tom Johnston lived in the house next door to theirs and Lynn has often said that they spent a lot of time taking care of their grandchildren for her.

I have found that telling someone to “call if you need something” isn’t effective—-just go by and visit, and do something, whether mow the yard, clear the snow off the sidewalk/drive, clean the pool skimmer, whatever.