She nodded cautiously.

“Then you should.”

A few days later we met with a family support counselor to discuss how I could help during the newborn months without taking over.

Chloe wanted assistance with lifting and transportation while she continued recovering.

She also wanted to make the final decisions about feeding, visitors, and the baby’s routines with guidance from her medical team.

I was proud of her, but pride did not always make the work easy.

When she declined an invitation I had accepted on her behalf, I caught myself saying, “I’m only trying to help.” She looked at me with patient disappointment.