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Who ya gonna call? The familiar tune from the movie "Ghostbusters" played in my mind one morning as I thought about whom I could call for help with my two children. My husband was out of town. The two babysitters I normally use when I work part time were on vacation. My husband's parents had passed away. I thought how nice it would be if my mom could come over and play with the kids so I could have a little reprieve. But my parents live 1,600 miles away.

Who ya gonna call? My house looked like a bomb had exploded. There was paperwork all over my office. Toys were strewn across the family room floor. Breakfast dishes were still piled in the kitchen sink. And the snow on the driveway needed shoveling. There was so much to do. But my most urgent needs were my two young children, ages 17 months and 3, who were vying for my attention. Who ya gonna call?

I picked up the phone and called a neighbor who has a son a little older than my son. No answer. I left a message. I called our next-door neighbor who has two children. Again, no answer. I called a third neighbor who was on her way out to run errands. She said she'd love to have my kids come over and play later. As I put down the phone, I felt a sense of failure as a mother. Why did I feel so overwhelmed with everything this morning? My patience was wearing thin!

I called another friend whose children are grown and expressed my frustrations to her. She reassured me that every parent needs help sometimes. We're not meant to parent alone. My friend provided some perspective to my situation. Our own parents typically had an entire network of family who lived nearby and who could help shoulder the responsibility of childrearing. I spent weekends at my grandmother's house. And my brother and I looked forward to spending a week every summer with our aunt and uncle. It was a nice break from our regular routine. And now that I'm a parent, I'm certain it was a time for my parents to decompress and reconnect with one another. They knew who they were "gonna call."

It was hard, but I resigned myself to the fact that my house would not get cleaned that day. And the paperwork would still be there tomorrow. So the kids and I went outside and played in the snow. We made a snowman with a red grape smile and a cheese stick nose.

Later that afternoon, my neighbor called and asked if I needed help. My stress and anxiety had passed. The kids were tired from playing outdoors. But as I explained my day to her, she said she understood because she'd been there. I felt relieved to hear she'd felt that way before, too.

The next morning, we had lots of fresh snow, and I went out to shovel the walk with my son while my daughter napped. My neighbor was already shoveling my driveway! My other neighbor joined a few minutes later. I felt overwhelmed by their kindness. I knew whom to call; I just had to swallow my pride and reach out.

It's OK to ask for help. And by taking the first step, I've experienced a more transparent relationship with my neighbors. God knew I needed some help that morning. He gave me the grace and strength to mother my children when I asked him. And the best thing with God is, you don't have to leave a voice mail … he's always home!

Kathy Burr is co-creator of the "Baby Faith" series of children's videos. She's the former Communications Director for the Baby Einstein Company. She and her husband, Mark, live in Castle Rock, Colorado, with their two children, David, 3, and Nicole, 17 months.

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