Cancer Sucks! When a Parent has Cancer
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Her husband got the news last week– cancer. (Again.) Their boys are one and four.
When she told me, I taught her boys a bad word.
Somehow it just slipped out.
Sorry.
Cancer is scary and big and makes me MAD.
When A Parent Has Cancer
Not knowing what to do I asked another friend, Michelle, a breast cancer survivor with two young kids. She told me, “Support her by taking care of the kids so that she can take care of her husband and not worry. Take care of snacks, toys, babysitting.“
Ideas to Support
- Food: Care Calendar for meals
- Communication: Caring Bridge for a blog
- Babysitting
- Coffee chats
- Set up a fund for donations
- Toys and books for the kids (Cancer Gifts, Busy Kits)
Books About Parents With Cancer
- Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings
- My Book about Cancer
- Becky and the Worry Cup
- Once Upon a Hopeful Night
- The Paper Chain
- Someone I Love is Sick
- MyMommy Has Cancer — Michelle says, “It’s critical. It helped her understand what is happening.” Her daughter was three.
- Books on the American Cancer Society website.
Can you continue my list of ideas or books and make this a community project that will not only help my friend but others as well?
Have you supported a friend dealing with cancer and kid? What did you do to help?
Photo credit: Pink Sherbet Photography / Foter.com / CC BY
Thank you for opening up such an intimate subject to Parenting 2.0 Melissa. My best friend graduated from the five sensory world after a five year bout with cancer a few years ago. I think every person is different in what serves them best during difficult times… even day to day. Small kindesses speak large; whether a book, assistance with daily chores, a surprise candle lit dinner (with Costco lasagna) for she and her hubby while you take the kids for pizza, or simply listening – anything that reduces stress and increases happiness and optimism is normally welcome. Confident she is already grateful having you, curse lessons and all. Hugs! Mama Marlaine
Boo, boo, boo, boo, boo!!! 🙁 I hate that this is happening.
I have another idea too, we should talk soon.
Sally Murphy has an exquisitive verse novel for older children when dealing with cancer. ‘Toppling’ was released this year. So honestly beautiful. Definitely worth a look.
As to how to help. Maybe also be available for Hubby, so Mum and kids can have away quality time too. Gives Mum and kids an emotional break – time to do ‘normal’ things – but a quietly there friend would also be a support for Hubby. (Just don’t feel you need to fill the silence with words. Too draining.)
Good on you for being a beautiful friend. Give lots of hugs too. And let friend’s tears flow if they do. Tears are healing.
That’s a great idea, Wendy!
So sorry to hear about your friend’s husband…
How about an errand chart? For things like taking care of the lawn, picking up stuff at the pharmacy, maybe organizing a housekeeper every other week, just general house stuff that will surely be a huge burden on the parents as they’re dealing with this?