|
Family and Friends: Tips for Parents
Parenting a child with CFIDS presents many challenges.
It
can be extremely painful for parents to watch their son or daughter struggle with both the physical
symptoms
and the emotional and cognitive issues this chronic illness presents.
So, what can you do to help? Above
all else, believe in
your child. Children, especially young children, may have difficulty describing their symptoms and often
have
no frame of reference for wellness. Listen to and accept what your child says about how they feel and
what they can and cannot do. Acknowledging and validating their illness will help relieve the pressure
your child feels to prove they are really sick and not lazy, manipulative or school phobic.
Be an advocate for your child. Educate
their health care providers,
educators, friends, and other family members about the physical and cognitive challenges faced by young
people with CFIDS (YPWC). Be willing to fight for your child if the going gets tough. Children have educational
rights - work with your child's school to
ensure that
your child is given the opportunities to excel that he or she deserves.
In the article "A Researcher and a Mother Help Others Learn to Help YPWCs",
young people said they need adults to:
1. Believe in them.
2.
Try to understand them.
3. Accept them.
4. Encourage them.
5. Stay with
them for the long haul.
So, as you work to be a loving and effective parent
and accept the
challenges
of parenting a child with CFIDS, you are encouraged
to:
1. Trust the YPWC.
2.
Encourage the YPWC.
3. Commit to support the YPWC through
the long haul.
4. Guard the YPWCs self esteem.
5. Compensate for the YPWCs losses.
6. Commit yourself to the YPWCs growth.
7. Advocate
for the YPWC.
Give your child the love, encouragement,
and support they need.
Learn
all you can about CFIDS by reading and receiving The CFIDS
Chronicle.
Articles of Interest
Related Information
|
