Letting people help

Mrs_AF

**CN** My aunt has recently had some serious health issues. She sent an email saying she wished she lived closer so she could help with wedding related things. Should I ask her to do my cardbox (she's amazing at craft projects like this) or take it as a nicety and just say thanks? ***


I have an aunt who has been going though some scary health issues, and just emailed us all an update. In the email, she said that she wants to have her biopsy (they think she might have lymphoma) in mid-April so that she can have time to heal and go to the wedding. She's really looking forward to it.

I emailed her back to ask how everything was going, and she said she wished she lived closer so she could help. Actually she said this:

"I wish I was closer it would be fun to help out.  If there is anything I can do let me know."

She is incredibly creative and talented, and my first thought was that I could ask her to do the cardbox. That way she feels involved and gets to help out.

Before I sent the email asking her to, I had second thoughts and was worried that giving her a task right now would be putting a lot on her plate. Maybe she was just being polite??

So what do you think? Should I ask her to do the cardbox for us? Or just take it as a polite sentiment and thank her.

MyNameIsNot

I only read the CN, but I had the same thing with my grandmother.  She was on some medication that made her nearly blind, but she loves doing craft stuff.  She asked if she could do my veil, and I happily agreed.  She loves doing that stuff, and I know it made her feel like she could do something for me.  

ETA: It turned out great, and she was so excited to show everyone.

Celles

Maybe instead of asking her to make the cardbox for you, you could ask her if she has ideas for how you could make it yourself?  Tell her you're thinking you might like something handmade but are kind of stuck, and since she's so great with arts and crafts, you'd love some help brainstorming if inspiration strikes.

If she volunteers to make it, great!  If not, she can still offer suggestions and feel involved in some small way. 

Just a thought. 

polichik

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_letting-people?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:636213e6-3fdd-4e69-bdb2-340f494338bePost:55396a9e-4ff2-4c4a-bcf8-7b6daef23af8">Re: Letting people help</a>:
[QUOTE]Maybe instead of asking her to make the cardbox for you, you could ask her if she has ideas for how you could make it yourself?  Tell her you're thinking you might like something handmade but are kind of stuck, and since she's so great with arts and crafts, you'd love some help brainstorming if inspiration strikes. If she volunteers to make it, great!  If not, she can still offer suggestions and feel involved in some small way.  Just a thought.  :)
Posted by Celles[/QUOTE]

Oooh! This is perfect.

Mrs_AF

Yes it is, thank you so much! I will do that.