Spring is finally arriving and that always means new things for me to do. I love to be outdoors, just not necessarily gardening. I also have windows that need cleaning, a patio and driveway that need power washing, all necessary tasks when preparing our home for the coming season. It makes me tired just thinking about it, let alone getting any of it done. My role of CarePartner keeps me pretty busy regardless of the season, something I really need to keep in mind as I start trying to take on more. Perhaps that’s why, when faced with the choice between buying a new garden hoe and hiring someone to take care of it for me, I chose the latter.

I won’t give it all away. The bigger jobs like spring clean-up of the flower beds and mulching in the front of my house would be best done by a professional. I’m also having someone else cut my lawns. I will take care of the back garden beds myself, perhaps grow a few vegetables and flowers. I have a solid plan for what I can do and what I need to let go of this year; I just hope the plan works.

The advantage of having someone helping out on a regular basis is that if at any time I realize I have taken on more than I can handle, I can simply ask them to take over. This also works as a safety plan in case something happens to me or my husband and we need an assist in an emergency. Having an established relationship with helpers is essential in times of crisis. This spring I am looking carefully at what I think I can and want to manage myself. I’ll let the professionals take care of the rest.