Let the Children Know about a Parent's Cancer Diagnosis

Maybe, Some of you fear to let your children know about the situation . It is important to realize that parents and children have very different life experiences. So it is unlikely that a child will react to a problem as an adult would.

Cancer is an impossible secret to keep. Ever heard the expression, “Little pitchers have big ears”? It means children tend to eavesdrop on adult conversations. When children hear conversations they aren’t meant to hear, they may pick up on the anxiety and worry of their parents. Often, they will tend to be afraid and believe the worst if they haven’t been given complete information. The effort it takes to keep such secrets may rob the parent of precious energy, too.

If children hear about their parent's cancer from someone else, such as a curious neighbor or a classmate, it can destroy the trust that parents have worked so hard to put in place. If children think their parents are being vague on purpose or are trying to hide something from them, they find it hard to believe they are being told the truth. So it is better that parents learn how to share this information truthfully, but in a way that allows the child to understand and take part in the discussion. The other problem in keeping the cancer a secret is that the child may incorrectly assume that whatever is happening is too terrible to be discussed. This may lead the child to feel isolated from the family, so the natural desire parents have to protect their children sometimes only makes things harder. Parents know that it is impossible to shield children from all of the stressful parts of life, and i think it is our job as parent to teach our children how to manage these challenges.