Balancing Life

[ljackson]

My son's experience with kidney disease is lifelong, therefore, we have adopted this as part of our lives and my husband's family is good about helping pick up our other two children when our son has appointments. I take care of all of the medications, appointments, and communication with insurance, doctors, and his school. Because we don't see it as something that will ever end, it doesn't seem like a burden. We just do what we have to do.

We have three children total who are all very active and busy with different activities. My husband and I divide and conquer and the kids help as part of our team for getting things around the house done that is age appropriate for them. All of us working together makes things balanced.

I have an online support group to ask questions about their child and the treatments they recieve and support. It's comforting to know they have advice for parenting a child with kidney disease if I need them.

[JaMoMom]

Balancing daily life was a task in of itself..I'm married, but husband works out of town during the week and travels home every other weekend (has for 20 of our 24 year marriage) so all the children were raised by a single parent. We have three kids, the youngest was my chronically il, but I also had a special needs child in the middle. To say that ANYONE can raise a child alone is a myth. People need people..whether it's to help with errands, help with homework or housework or just be there to listen when one is overwhelmed. I was lucky to have close family that helped when I needed to do whatever I needed. Dont be afraid to ask for help, people help people. When my child was feeling good and in a good place, I would use that as a "gold star" for mama and I would treat myself to a little something. A manicure, a massage, a TALL glass of beer, a night with friends..those helped keep me in check.