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Talking to your children about cancer and death?
Asked by danellsar on Monday, November 21, 2011
Talking to your children about cancer and death?
My son is 7. So far, we haven't really talked about what's wrong with his Daddy, just that he's been very sick and the doctors have been trying a lot of different things to help. Recently, he's been showing a lot of anxiety and worry about his dad, who is not doing very well. We don't know how much longer my husband has, maybe not very long, and I think it's time to talk to our son. I ordered some books, but they don't seem right. I want him to understand that dad is sick, that cancer is a sickness that some people get but is not catching, and that sometimes no matter what the doctors try, people die from cancer.
Any suggestions?
4 Answers from the Community
susie81610
Have you tried a public library? Also you should have an oncology social worker that can help you. There should also be a chaplain at the hospt. Also do you have hospice involved yet? When my mother passed the kids were young and they sent a special social worker out the day my mom passed. In fact I think she was there before they got home from school. And for the next few days until it slowed down to a couple days a week So get ahold of hospice the hospt should be able to help you with that is what the support teams are all about. Hope this helps God Bless you.
- 2 Like
over 9 years agoSunnyCloud
Im with Susie. God bless you & yours with peace & strength. xox
- 0 Like
over 9 years agohikerchick
There's a phenomenal book called Final Gifts, by Maggie Callanan and Patricia Kelley that shares a lot of beautiful true stories and hope from the perspective of 2 hospice nurses. Well worth the read, and I'm not a reader. Has really helped me cope with the loss of friends in their 40's and 50's, my mother's lengthy death, my father's suicide and the cancer I had a year ago. Has been nearly life-changing for me.
- 2 Like
over 9 years agosueglader
From the What's Next Blog:
http://blog.whatnext.com/blog/peer-perspectives/telling-your-kids-you-have-cancer
Not so much about death, but the overall idea of communicating honestly, even in the face of the unknown.
- 0 Like
almost 9 years agoHelp the community by answering this question:
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