As a pediatric nurse, I often observe that it is difficult for a family to maintain family relationships when one of the children is diagnosed with terminal illness and treated. Here are five tips I've found to help families get through this nightmare.
1. To be honest, keep in mind the age of healthy children. A very young child will seek information, but a simple but honest answer will do. Older children need more specific answers and honesty. Although some children are more willing to explain than parents, be prepared. Remember that the older a child is, the more he or she gains experience in obtaining external information. Their peers, the Internet, books, and other good-faith friends will be simple but not always the source of real information. The important thing is that your child can believe that you are providing them with facts.
2. Include siblings when the state changes. Again, remember that age is appropriate and inclusive. For example, a child may not be suitable to visit an intensive care unit or be informed of every exam in progress. However, older children may need to look at what is happening. When their brothers or sisters experience painful or terrible things, they will be welcomed. Remember, it is not appropriate for siblings to hear the terrible news from their external sources about their brothers and sisters. It comes better from parents.
3. Avoid promises that you may not be able to keep. If you promise to heal and your brothers and sisters get worse, you will break trust and maybe it will be hard to recover. Instead, for example, provide hope for cure, but be honest about other possibilities that you can't control.
4. Be loyal to your family values. Include your religious and spiritual practices throughout the disease and treatment process. This teaches the importance of family values for other children. When you are not there, it gives them something to believe. If you pray every day, encourage your brothers and sisters at home to pray together, even if you don't.
5. Plan special time with other healthy children. Sometimes, when you are sick in a hospital, it is almost impossible to set aside time for your children at home. 15 minutes in the hospital canteen may be the amount of time you can find, but I encourage you to work hard. Healthy children at home need to feel that they are considered, missed and still loved. And I know from experience that as a parent of a sick child, you need to take a break. A simple morning or bedtime call adds a sense of belonging and importance. These short visits and conversations keep you connected and refreshed.
So far, these tips aren't the only way you can do to help your child deal with their sibling's illness, but it's just the beginning. Feel free to seek help from a hospital pastor or social worker. They can provide valuable resources for families facing this situation. Remember, no matter what you are dealing with, your child at home is also dealing with it. It is very important to stay in touch.
Orignal From: 5 tips to a brother and sister of a sick child
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