Why is it difficult to ask for help?

Motherhood has helped me recognize that I have a major weakness. That weakness is not knowing how to ask for help. My husband shared that his college football coach would always say, “One of the most powerful words in the dictionary, is the word ‘help’!” I responded with a quote from Spike Lees’s classic movie, Do The Right Thing?’ “And that’s the truth, Ruth”. I know that I am drowning from my daily life routine, and yet, I cannot say the word ‘help’. Why can’t I say it? What am I scared of?! I am scared that my expectations will lead to disappointment. That disappointment will lead me to withdrawing from asking for help. Also, does the fear of not having full control play a part on me not asking for help? No matter the reasoning, I need the tools and resources to tend to my mental, spiritual and physical health. I need to show my children that it is simply okay to ask for help and accept support. I talk to my mom about my struggles of being a homeschooling, full-time working mom and she always says “Sarah, you are doing way too much. If you don’t sit down somewhere and get help.” My response back is always “I know mama. I will,” but I don’t. I keep putting it off, but I just need to ask for help. Little by little I am going to give myself grace and grow in vulnerability. This is a top priority in my life right now. Self-care is asking for help in a life of beautiful chaos. 2024, let’s go!!

Why the title “If You Don’t Sit Down Somewhere!”

Growing up, occasionally, my Momma, Aunts, Granny or Gaga told me, “If you don’t sit down somewhere!” because most likely, I was doing something that I was not supposed to be doing or in my culture they would say, “I was doing the most.” Therefore, to help get my life back together, I would find a place to sit in which it was hard to find me (lol), think about the consequence of not settling down and reset so I would not get in trouble again. Ten out of ten times, I would rejoin the rest of the household without any further consequences.

Now that I am older, the tables have definitely turned, and as I always tell my momma, “I get it.” I now say to my children “If you don’t sit down somewhere!” Also, I am finding myself saying to myself “If you don’t sit down somewhere!” As a wife, mother, educator, entrepreneur, sister, friend and any other hat I need to put on, I find myself “doing the most.” For instance, I have full-time job as well as have a part-time job, homeschooling my three toddlers and have started my own business (Do you see what I mean when I say I am doing the most?) As a result of all these hats I wear, I have started gaining unhealthy living habits. Therefore, I have forced myself to sit down and reset. This blog is a platform for individuals to provide those real-life stories in order to let the audience see that they are not by themselves or give tips to become the best version of themselves.

Always remember, your story, your power.