I Have Cancer. How Do I Tell My Kids?

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In a child’s mind – the word cancer isn’t necessarily a scary word. Don’t scare them with your own fear.

When Amie Lands was diagnosed with aggressive Head & Neck cancer, her boys were only six and two. Throughout her battle, Amie, a Certified Grief Coach, had good and bad days of trying to simply be mom. Through her journey, she learned a lot that she shares with other families about talking to children and allowing the emotions to lead and shape the conversations.

Kids don’t have a foundation for cancer fear. Lead with words they understand.

Example of what you might say: I am sick and the sickness is called cancer. Cancer is something inside my body and the doctors and I are going to work on getting it out so I won’t be sick anymore.

“It’s important to find a balance between being honest with your child and providing age appropriate information while keeping in mind how scary this time is likely to be for them,” says Kelly Corbitt, LCSW, a psychotherapist in Pennsylvania. “Remember this is not the time to try to “fix” anything, or encourage them to “look on the bright side” of the issue or news. Even if it seems obvious to you, telling your child that the illness and this situation is not their fault can make a huge impact as they navigate this information.”

Before jumping into the conversation, prepare your own thoughts and emotions first.

  • Buy age appropriate books for your children to help them understand other people have been through this too.
  • Have other loved ones around they trust
  • Use age appropriate language
    • Mommy might be super sleepy sometimes but still wants to cuddle.
    • Mommy might look different (from losing my hair) but it means the medicine is doing its job
    • It’s ok to sit with mommy
    • Some days will be great, and some days mommy might need to rest more.

“We only welcomed people into our home who the kids were really comfortable with approaching it as fun and special when grandma comes to pick you up at school,” said Amie.

Normalcy can be comforting – to everyone.

  • Keeping the kids schedules and activities going provides a sense of structure in a world disrupted.
  • If you can’t physically be the one driving them and picking them up, have the other parent or trusted family member step in.
  • Have those close to them provide fun games and activities to ensure joyful experiences.

“I had the doctors and nurses taking care of me. I needed the focus to be in keeping the kids having a sense of normalcy. There are people in your life who want to – and are willing to do anything. Select precise things for them to do such as Tuesday afternoons with William, and make sure it’s always committed,” said Amie.

Encourage them to ask questions.

  • Remember to always follow their instincts. If they seem concerned, recognize with them their feelings and reassure them as best you can.
  • You won’t have all the answers and that’s ok to tell them, but assure them there is a plan of action in place.

Resilience Modeling

We don’t always need to go to the worst case scenario.

  • Take their cues. When they want to talk, talk. When they don’t, put on a movie and give a good snuggle.
  • Talking about the hard stuff is hard. Sometimes small doses “I had the books ready to go, I had my treatment plan in place, I thought I was ready to dive into the conversation with my son – but when we started, I was so surprised by how nonchalant he was with it all. He wasn’t afraid and I took that cue throughout my treatment,” said Amie.

 Communicate with your child’s school/counselors and caregivers

  • Letting those who are around your child know what’s going on allows them to help you watch for any concerning behaviors that might need to be addressed.
  • Telling people how you are speaking to your child, what you are sharing, and your goals for them, helps bring everyone onto the same page.

Children can express their feelings in many different ways. It’s important when there is stress within our homes that we look for signs in which children might need more professional help.

 When to seek professional support

We asked Kelly Corbitt, LCSW, a psychotherapist in Bucks County, PA, who provides therapeutic support and guidance to children, teens, adults and families facing challenges related to mental health, life stressors, trauma, and loss, to share some of her insight for our readers about how to know when to seek help for your child.

What are some warning signs for parents when a child is having difficulty coping with stress at home?

There are many signs which can indicate struggles that a child may be having due to stress at home.  These can include withdrawal, isolation and shutting down or more conflict and irritability than is typical for them with siblings and parents. Changes in sleep patterns, or struggles falling asleep, may also be indicators of difficulty coping with a stressful situation, as are regressive behaviors such as returning to old patterns or returning to behaviors of a previous developmental stage. Children may demonstrate these indicators in the home environment and not elsewhere, while others may show signs of struggle in other domains; watch for academic struggles, acting out behaviors in school and extracurriculars, or a lack of interest in activities that are typically fulfilling for them.

How do you approach a young child when you see their anxiety elevating?

It’s really important for children to feel understood, particularly when they are struggling with intense emotions like anxiety and fear. These feelings can make us adults feel uncomfortable, so it’s helpful to keep in mind a few pointers when relating to children struggling in this way. First, remember that a loving, listening presence is often more important than solving or trying to fix something they are upset about. Second, be curious and don’t assume you know what they are feeling; demonstrate your willingness to try to understand using language that inquires about their experience, rather than words that attempt to define it for them or tell them why they “shouldn’t” be feeling this way. Lastly, keep in mind that children need to know that their feelings matter and are valid, because ultimately this sends a message to them that they matter and that they are valid and have worth.

When you have to deliver difficult news to a child but don’t want to scare them – do you have any advice?

 It’s never easy to approach a child with news that you know will be upsetting to them and difficult to process, but keeping a few pointers in mind may help you navigate this challenging terrain. As much as you’re able, controlling the environment to be a familiar, trusted space and sharing the news during a time when there are minimal other environmental stressors and distractions can be very helpful.

Also, it’s beneficial if you can begin to process your feelings first, so that you can remain in and present for your child’s needs during this time. While it’s ok to show emotions (we want children to know it’s safe to have big feelings), we still want them to trust that you as the adult can be the safe space to “hold” the feelings they are currently struggling with. Finally, allow them to ask questions. Understanding that they may have more as time goes on, as well as more feelings to process and express.

This article originally appeared on Giveinkind.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.

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7 Comforting Gifts For Friends & Families with Breast Cancer

7 Comforting Gifts For Friends & Families with Breast Cancer

Learn about some of the best gifts for a friend or family member battling breast cancer. At the same time, remember that being there for them is one of the best gifts you can provide.

Courtney Hale / istockphoto

Meal trains can be incredibly helpful for anyone going through difficult periods in life. When someone is going through chemotherapy, planning to feed their family should be the last thing on their mind. In saying this, gathering a group of individuals from the community and forming a meal train can make a world difference. Before starting one, it is a good idea to check if the recipient and their family have any food allergies or dislikes of particular foods. This way, supporters can provide options that won’t go to waste and that no one will be limited from enjoying.

Another essential thing to determine when setting up a meal train, is the frequency and schedule at which people can sign up to to provide meals.

You want to have a combination of both meals that can be heated immediately and other meals that can be frozen and cooked later. This helps the recipient not have to worry about making food and not worrying about food going bad too quickly. We also recommend adding a sticky note or heating instructions with meals that can be frozen. Then the recipient knows how long to reheat frozen foods for, as well as have some idea of when food will be best by. A final note about why meal trains are excellent gifts is that so many different recipes exist, possibilities are endless. 

Liudmila Chernetska/istockphoto

Coloring is a calming and mentally refreshing activity you could provide for a friend fighting breast cancer. The recipient would be able to easily take it to the hospital and color as they undergo treatment or monitoring. It can be a distraction from the current environment and a soothing activity to do while home in bed relaxing.

There are so many different coloring books; how do you decide on just one? They vary from mandalas to animals, even to inspirational quotes. There are so many different choices out there that the possibilities to choose from are endless. 

ch__ch/istockphoto

Escaping reality, even for a short time, can be a great gift to give a loved one with breast cancer. Misery loves company, and having the chance to read the latest gossip and celebrity secrets can be a great way to think about the lives of others rather than worry about your own. And with brain teasers, there are many different books, from trivia and cross-word puzzles to adult connect-the-dots and sudoku.

tony4urban/Istockphoto

This gift has been mentioned several times before but is hard to beat. With journaling, the possibilities are endless. Whether you gift someone a blank one or perhaps even one with prompts provided, journals permit individuals to sit down and write about whatever they think or feel without being judged. When going through tough moments in our lives, sometimes it can be easier to sit and write what you are genuinely thinking and feeling; to just let everything out. The writer can share their journal  entries with others if they choose or can be kept for their eyes only. It just permits a safe place to write and let out everything they may be feeling and thinking.

anyaberkut/istockphoto

When going through treatments, it is normal for chapped lips to be a side effect of chemotherapy. One of the best ways to battle chap and dry mouth is to use chapstick and consistently hydrate. One of the most helpful ways to remain hydrated is to have a cute water bottle–or just a bottle in general–that you enjoy using. We highly recommend looking at the different brands of insulated bottles. 

The beauty of these is that they can keep your drinks warm or cold for a copious amount of time, depending on the individual’s drink preference. Another bonus is that they are easy to take to and from the hospital. Those with flip lids/lids that fully cover your mouthpiece when cold are especially recommended because your immune system isn’t at its best when fighting a disease such as cancer. It’s easy to contract germs in public places.

Olga Chetvergova /istockphoto

Now this is a gift that you can give someone by providing them with a giftcard. Going with them is a great activity when they feel up to it. Going out and having someone pamper them for a few hours. Who doesn’t enjoy sitting back and being pampered?

triocean/istockphoto

Whether at the hospital or hanging out at home, pajamas are an excellent gift for an individual battling cancer. No matter the season or time of year, you can’t go wrong with pajamas.

yrabota/istockphoto

A must-have comfort accessory for recovering from any type of breast surgery. Provides security, comfort, and protection especially when wearing cross-body car seatbelts.

The most important thing to remember when caring for a loved one with breast cancer is to be gentle and listen to their needs. This is a great starter selection of gifts. 

This article originally appeared on Giveinkind.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.

KatarzynaBialasiewicz/istockphoto

Obencem / istockphoto

Featured Image Credit: Prostock-Studio/istockphoto.

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