At the time of a cancer diagnosis, family may be your greatest worry. But they may also be your greatest support. Your children need you to help them as much as they can be a support to you. By creating the space for open honest communication families can not only survive an illness, but can thrive.
1. Family Meetings
Family meetings are a great way to offer every family member the opportunity to talk about feelings, upcoming events, changes, and to discuss family plans. Children and teens are afforded the opportunity to voice concerns and discuss possible solutions.
2. Create Family Plans
Family plans help children live with the unexpected. There is less fear and anxiety if everyone participates understands, and agrees to a plan.
3. Identify Strengths
Identify what makes your family unique and special. Creating a family mantra or choosing a theme song supports family members by reminding them what connects them all and keeps them strong.
4. Routines & Traditions
Maintain routines and develop new ones. This offers children and teens a sense of normalcy and expectations when often things feel out of control. Continue with traditions and develop new ones. Traditions bring families together and encourage fun family time together.
5. Family Roles
Identify roles and jobs for children and teens. This helps children to feel involved and provides them with ways to contribute. Jobs should be age appropriate and build on a child’s strengths and interests.
6. New Responsibilities
It might be that children and teens may need to take on more responsibilities. They may need to help around the house, do some yard work or help with younger siblings. This can be a good growing experience. However, check in regularly to make sure the additional responsibilities aren’t becoming too much for them and they are able to still participate in activities and school work that is important to them.
The Cancer Journey for Parents
How do you tell your child that someone close to them has cancer? What do you say about treatments, or prognosis? Here are some articles that can help.
