BEING A CAREPARTNER( continued)
Journaling is a strategy that provides a safe space to express thoughts and feelings that children may not want to share with anyone else. This can include writing, drawing, poetry, random words, or images. Purchase a journal book and some pens, and suggest some prompts( for example: Something I found difficult today, Something I am worried about, Something that made me smile, etc.).
Children should be encouraged to continue leading their lives and remaining active and involved with their interests, hobbies, and friends. Check that your children have support systems at school, in the family, and in the community. Arrange for younger children to have play dates. Ask extended family to spend special time with your child. As children grow into teens and young adults, they may need these resources and support to encourage and validate making decisions that are right for them and their future.
Rather than isolating children from the person with the condition, find ways to allow the children to assist and to be involved. Be creative in helping the child to continue the connection with the person with PSP, MSA, or CBD. Children might want to hold packages for the person, push a wheelchair, sign greeting cards, be responsible for some household chores, play board games, tell jokes, watch a TV series, read a book, or help make a favorite recipe. Being involved in these ways will provide children with the opportunity for personal growth and for coming to terms with the illness in a healthy, productive way. Empower children by encouraging them to be involved in a fundraiser or awareness event. Being personally involved with chronic illness expands one’ s horizons and opens one’ s heart to being non-judgmental about others’ limitations or differences.
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Conclusion
In general, children need to feel secure knowing that you will be able to manage whatever comes, that you will get the help that is needed, that you love them, and that you will all be ok— maybe different, but ok.
Children, like adults, need permission and time to grieve the changes and ongoing losses in their lives. Understandably, they may have to work through some sadness before adjusting to a new reality. Focus on what still exists— love, time together, and shared interests.
Resources
• Pittsburgh Healthcare Report: This site has some good general information on prime of life neurodegeneration. • www. pittsburghhealthcarereport. com / helping-kids-cope-when-a-parent-is-sick /
• Marjorie E. Korff PACT Program: This site details how to support children at different ages. See the left sidebar of this page for age-specific tips.
• www. mghpact. org / for-parents / parenting-principles / developmental-perspective / overview
• How to Help Children Through a Parent’ s Serious Illness by Kathleen McCue
• Raising an Emotionally Healthy Child When a Parent is Sick by Paula Rauch and Anna Muriel
• The Etiquette of Illness by Susan Halpern, with a chapter“ Talking to Children about Illness”