What Do I Do Now? - 105

105
RELATIONSHIPS /// CHAPTER 66
Telling
Your Kids
If you have
children, telling
them about your
cancer can be
difficult. The
younger your
child is, the
more important
it will be to
explain things
in concrete
language.
Your children will probably
be very worried about
you but may be even more
concerned about what will
happen to them, and who will
take care of their basic needs.
The changes in your appearance
and energy levels can be concerning
for children. Young children may become
clingy or withdrawn, act out to attract attention,
report physical complaints such as stomachaches/headaches,
have difficulty concentrating, experience changes in eating and
sleeping patterns or even experience regression.
Your children will likely know something is wrong, and it is
best to be honest with them so that they do not feel confused,
anxious or left out. Being honest allows your child to feel secure
and strengthens their trust with you, in addition to empowering
them to cope and process their own feelings. ( " Kids can cope
with what they know, but cannot cope with what they do not
know " .)
TIPS FOR TELLING
YOUR CHILDREN
» Allow children the opportunity to ask
questions and discuss their feelings.
» Give young children information in
" bite-size " amounts as your illness
progresses to help them adjust.
» Children ask questions as they
process. They will ask questions
when they are ready for more
information.
» Reassure them that it is not anyone's
fault, especially theirs -nothing
they said, did or thought could have
caused this illness.
» Make sure they know cancer is not
contagious and they can't " catch it. " It
can be helpful to differentiate a " big
sick " (cancer, other serious illness)
from a " little sick " like a cough or cold
they can catch.
» Do things together as much as you
can or ask a relative or friend to give
them extra time and attention.
» Reassure them of your love.
» Find ways for them to be involved and
help.
» Allow them to help pack something in
your bag when you go to the hospital.
» Leave an item of yours with them
when you are apart.
» Maintain a sense of structure and
routine as much as possible to aid in
their coping.
» Notify your children of the people
who will help care for them during
this time, to ensure they understand
their needs will still be met and who
to expect.

https://fwaya.org/

What Do I Do Now?

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of What Do I Do Now?

Contents
What Do I Do Now? - 1
What Do I Do Now? - Contents
What Do I Do Now? - 3
What Do I Do Now? - 4
What Do I Do Now? - 5
What Do I Do Now? - 6
What Do I Do Now? - 7
What Do I Do Now? - 8
What Do I Do Now? - 9
What Do I Do Now? - 10
What Do I Do Now? - 11
What Do I Do Now? - 12
What Do I Do Now? - 13
What Do I Do Now? - 14
What Do I Do Now? - 15
What Do I Do Now? - 16
What Do I Do Now? - 17
What Do I Do Now? - 18
What Do I Do Now? - 19
What Do I Do Now? - 20
What Do I Do Now? - 21
What Do I Do Now? - 22
What Do I Do Now? - 23
What Do I Do Now? - 24
What Do I Do Now? - 25
What Do I Do Now? - 26
What Do I Do Now? - 27
What Do I Do Now? - 28
What Do I Do Now? - 29
What Do I Do Now? - 30
What Do I Do Now? - 31
What Do I Do Now? - 32
What Do I Do Now? - 33
What Do I Do Now? - 34
What Do I Do Now? - 35
What Do I Do Now? - 36
What Do I Do Now? - 37
What Do I Do Now? - 38
What Do I Do Now? - 39
What Do I Do Now? - 40
What Do I Do Now? - 41
What Do I Do Now? - 42
What Do I Do Now? - 43
What Do I Do Now? - 44
What Do I Do Now? - 45
What Do I Do Now? - 46
What Do I Do Now? - 47
What Do I Do Now? - 48
What Do I Do Now? - 49
What Do I Do Now? - 50
What Do I Do Now? - 51
What Do I Do Now? - 52
What Do I Do Now? - 53
What Do I Do Now? - 54
What Do I Do Now? - 55
What Do I Do Now? - 56
What Do I Do Now? - 57
What Do I Do Now? - 58
What Do I Do Now? - 59
What Do I Do Now? - 60
What Do I Do Now? - 61
What Do I Do Now? - 62
What Do I Do Now? - 63
What Do I Do Now? - 64
What Do I Do Now? - 65
What Do I Do Now? - 66
What Do I Do Now? - 67
What Do I Do Now? - 68
What Do I Do Now? - 69
What Do I Do Now? - 70
What Do I Do Now? - 71
What Do I Do Now? - 72
What Do I Do Now? - 73
What Do I Do Now? - 74
What Do I Do Now? - 75
What Do I Do Now? - 76
What Do I Do Now? - 77
What Do I Do Now? - 78
What Do I Do Now? - 79
What Do I Do Now? - 80
What Do I Do Now? - 81
What Do I Do Now? - 82
What Do I Do Now? - 83
What Do I Do Now? - 84
What Do I Do Now? - 85
What Do I Do Now? - 86
What Do I Do Now? - 87
What Do I Do Now? - 88
What Do I Do Now? - 89
What Do I Do Now? - 90
What Do I Do Now? - 91
What Do I Do Now? - 92
What Do I Do Now? - 93
What Do I Do Now? - 94
What Do I Do Now? - 95
What Do I Do Now? - 96
What Do I Do Now? - 97
What Do I Do Now? - 98
What Do I Do Now? - 99
What Do I Do Now? - 100
What Do I Do Now? - 101
What Do I Do Now? - 102
What Do I Do Now? - 103
What Do I Do Now? - 104
What Do I Do Now? - 105
What Do I Do Now? - 106
What Do I Do Now? - 107
What Do I Do Now? - 108
What Do I Do Now? - 109
What Do I Do Now? - 110
What Do I Do Now? - 111
What Do I Do Now? - 112
What Do I Do Now? - 113
What Do I Do Now? - 114
What Do I Do Now? - 115
What Do I Do Now? - 116
What Do I Do Now? - 117
What Do I Do Now? - 118
What Do I Do Now? - 119
What Do I Do Now? - 120
What Do I Do Now? - 121
What Do I Do Now? - 122
What Do I Do Now? - 123
What Do I Do Now? - 124
What Do I Do Now? - 125
What Do I Do Now? - 126
What Do I Do Now? - 127
What Do I Do Now? - 128
What Do I Do Now? - 129
What Do I Do Now? - 130
What Do I Do Now? - 131
What Do I Do Now? - 132
What Do I Do Now? - 133
What Do I Do Now? - 134
What Do I Do Now? - 135
What Do I Do Now? - 136
What Do I Do Now? - 137
What Do I Do Now? - 138
What Do I Do Now? - 139
What Do I Do Now? - 140
What Do I Do Now? - 141
What Do I Do Now? - 142
What Do I Do Now? - 143
What Do I Do Now? - 144
What Do I Do Now? - 145
What Do I Do Now? - 146
What Do I Do Now? - 147
What Do I Do Now? - 148
What Do I Do Now? - 149
What Do I Do Now? - 150
What Do I Do Now? - 151
What Do I Do Now? - 152
What Do I Do Now? - 153
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com