A cancer diagnosis can change life in an instant. As you hear the news from your doctor, you will likely think about your family and how they will take the news. As a parent, your heart breaks for what your child may have to experience as you go through this tough time, as much as you want to shield them. To help you in this challenging time, here are tips on how to support your child and yourself.
Support for Your Child: Begin by Talking with Them
While you are used to the everyday conversations with the youngster, having more serious talks can be difficult for any parent. The key is to be both honest and use age-appropriate language. Doing so helps your child more fully know what to expect now and moving forward, depending on what your knowledgeable doctor at the cancer center has told you about treatment, prognosis, and more.
Encourage them to ask questions as you have this important conversation. Creating a safe home environment helps them feel comfortable enough to open up with questions, both in the moment and later on after they’ve thought about what you’ve said.
Maintain routines with them to help keep a sense of normalcy in and out of the home, if you can. That may involve reaching out to loved ones for help, depending on whether you have enough energy to do so yourself. That way, they can continue going to school, taking them for fun outings on weekends, and other activities they are used to doing.
Support for You: Get Emotional, Medical, and Practical Help
As much as you want to, doing everything yourself isn’t likely going to be an option anymore, at least not for long. Lean on your friends and family for help with chores at home, taking your kids where needed, and getting you to medical appointments if you cannot drive. It is okay to ask others for help; it does not mean you are weak. They will like being able to be useful to you in such a tough time, too.
Emotional support complements medical care. As you continue to get the doctor’s help you need at the cancer center, you may want to see a therapist or counselor. The emotional ups and downs following a cancer diagnosis can be rough, and it is nice to have the conversations you need to have with someone who is trained to help.
For example, you might feel lonely as you can’t talk with your child about certain feelings since they’re not age-appropriate. So, sharing those feelings with a therapist can be helpful.
Make time for self-care, too. Taking it easy some days, with your feet up, can help your body get much-needed rest. Prioritize sleep, too, so that you feel better able to move forward with what life brings your way, given your medical condition.
Conclusion: Coping with Cancer as a Parent
While you hope this situation never applies to you, if it does, these tips can help you navigate things a bit more easily with your child and for yourself. From honest communication with your little one to caring for yourself physically and emotionally, you can cope better with the path you’re on.
