When caregivers help too much

Sometimes caregivers try to help too much.  I had just finished painting this morning and walked out of my studio to use the bathroom, when I saw Adrian trying to put short skis on in the mud room.  I immediately went over to help him, since he seemed totally confused about how they worked.

These skis strap onto your every-day boots, and are good for going through rough terrain in the woods.  I soon had Adrian strapped into both boots.  Then he stood up.

"How do they feel?" I asked.

"I have to try them," he said.

"What do you need?" I got his coat and helped him on with it.  I offered him two choices of walking sticks.  I offered to get a pair of our cross-country ski poles from the basement.

"I need to get back to work, though, so what do you want?"

"You're rushing me," he said.  "I wonder if I can get out the door and close it."

"Do you know how to get them off?"  I was worried that he'd fall and not know how to remove the skis.  "I guess I should have stayed out of it.  If you'd learned how to put them on yourself, you'd know how to get them off."

He finally made it out the door, and even remembered his cell phone so he can call me if he gets in trouble.  Next time I'll stay out of it unless I'm asked for help.