Yesterday, I was wrestling - completely unsuccessfully I might add - with some work (and quite probably huffing and puffing like the big bad wolf). My son wandered over to me and asked what I was doing.

"I'm just trying to get this work done, but I'm finding it very difficult" I said.

He looked at me thoughtfully for a moment, then said "You should ask for help."

I smiled and said something like "Maybe I should" (but not for one minute intending to) then went back to struggling.

I was relaying the story to my husband later on - expecting him to giggle along with me - I mean it's a lovely suggestion, but I'm not at school any more - it's not as if I can just raise my hand and have the teacher come along and help me!

I was therefore a little surprised when my husband said he thought that asking for help wasn't a bad idea at all, and in fact that's exactly what I should do. As my husband pointed out - it's really not such a silly idea at all. It seems my little boy is wise way beyond his years (I'd love to say he gets that from me, but as this post demonstrates - that's pretty unlikely).

So, it's settled then. I should ask for help. The only problem is I'm not very good at that.

More often than not, I'll elect to struggle on through. Even though, when I actually stop and think about it, there are lots of people that I'm sure would be more than willing to help me out so it's not like I haven't got people to turn to. I think perhaps I worry that I'll be putting people out but then again I certainly don't think badly of people who ask me for help.

In fact, I'll feel really bad if I find out at a later date that someone needed my help with something; but for whatever reason decided that they didn't want to bother me with it - so struggled through it on their own. That makes me feel horrible! And yet, it seems that I'm perfectly willing to put my friends, family and colleagues in precisely that position - and all because I've some issue with asking for help!

When I stop and think about it like that, I feel very silly indeed. As such, I plan on biting the bullet and from now on asking for help when I need it. It's amazing what your children can teach you, eh?

Image credit gruntzooki