How I Help My Partner

Being in an interabled relationship has been challenging for me since I've had to learn to not only do things for myself, but also to help do things for my boyfriend. Here are things that I do and what has helped me do these things efficiently:

• Food

Since my boyfriend has high functioning cerebral palsy, he's able to make simple things like sandwiches. Meals that don't require reaching the stove or microwave. His movement is limited. A simple way that we address this situation is by buying or making easily re-heatable foods. This way, it takes less time on me, for example, if I'm on my way to work. It's also generally the most convenient option.

• Getting the wheelchair 

The physical work I put in into the relationship is more when we have to carry around the manual wheelchair. While most of the time it's relatively easy to lift, when I do have trouble lifting it- I make sure to lift with the proper positioning. Aka, not my back. There will be times where, for example, a building only has a set of stairs instead of elevators to get to where we need to go and that will be challenging for both of us. Me, since I have to lift and carry the wheelchair down and up stairs but mostly my boyfriend because he essentially has to crawl down long stair cases that require a lot of stamina. 

• Showering

If we are staying in a place that only has a shower instead of a bathtub, my help is able to make sure my boyfriend doesn't tire easy. Whenever my boyfriend bathes he uses the outside edges of the tub to prop up his arms to wash his hair, in the shower he doesn't have those makeshift arm rests.  When we're in the shower, we use an accessibility chair since he can't stand up for too long.  I help with washing my partners hair so that he can have an easier time but also it's my way of showing affection. 

• Walking/Getting up

Whenever my partner walks around in small places, I offer him my arms as a way to help him keep balance. Although this isn't inherently tough, it can get complicated when something needs to be done at the same time like carrying groceries. For this, i've learned to be patient. To take things one at a time. 

Source: https://www.kindpng.com/imgv/TihRhb_transparent-helping-hands-clip-art-helping-hand-no/