Data dodania: 09-08-22
You know that parenting isn’t easy. Even if you think you know everything there is to know about parenting, your own children will prove you wrong time and time again. But nothing compares to the challenges that come with raising a child who has cancer. The stresses involved in such circumstances can be overwhelming for any parent, let alone those who are still coming to terms with their child having cancer. As a result of this stress, many parents find themselves suffering from depression, anxiety, and social isolation as a consequence of having a child with cancer.
However, this doesn’t mean that these parents aren’t strong or able to cope – it just means they need our support even more than usual. If you want to be an awesome friend or loved one to the parent of a child with cancer and help them through this difficult time, read on for some ideas on how best to support them and what they might need from you.
What to know before you start
You don’t have to be a parent yourself to support a parent of a child with cancer. You just need to love them. Parents of a child with cancer will often spend all their emotional energy on their child, their treatment, and their family, which means they might not have much emotional energy left over for others. This can leave them feeling lonely, isolated, and depressed and might mean they aren’t able to be as open with you as they would like. If you can, try to be patient and open with them and let them know that they can talk to you whenever they need. And don’t forget that you can still do things for them even if they are feeling low – just because a person is depressed doesn’t mean they can’t or shouldn’t do anything.
The parent of a child with cancer is likely to be going through a lot of emotions, including guilt. Guilt about how the child got cancer in the first place, guilt about what they are putting their family through, and guilt about what they themselves are going through as a result of their child having cancer. They might feel like they aren’t strong enough, like they aren’t good enough, or that they are letting other people down by not being able to cope better. Remind them that you love them, that you appreciate all that they are doing, and that they are doing the best they can under the circumstances.
Helping with practical things
There are many ways you can help the parent of a child with cancer – both financially and by doing things around their home. Some parents might prefer you to help with the practical things like running errands, changing light bulbs, or going grocery shopping for them. Other parents might prefer that you donate to a charity or organization so that you are helping other families who are going through the same thing. See what the parent of a child with cancer would prefer and what they need from you. Some parents might prefer you to help them financially, but if you are going to do this, make sure you are doing it with the parent’s best interests in mind. Find out what their needs are, how much things cost, and how often they need help. Be mindful of any financial obligations they might have, such as medical bills, that they might need to prioritize over your help.
Helping with emotional support
It can be hard to know what you should say or do when someone is going through a difficult time, let alone when you’re trying to support the parent of a child with cancer. If you are unsure what to say or do when you’re with a parent whose child has cancer, try to remember what might be going through their mind and heart. You can ask the parent what they would like from you or ask them open-ended questions like “How are you doing?” or “What can I do to help?” You can also offer to spend time with the parent, go for walks with them, or go for coffee with them – whatever sounds like it might help the parent of a child with cancer the most.
