[mimiflower07]

this is a great but very difficult topic. Children are so different. My son was nine yrs old when i was diagnosis.
His personnality is such that he has always been interested in learning about viruses and illness(partly due to the school exposing them to many issues) He would often come home fr school wanting to share what they learn't. At times I felt he was aborbing info with an underlined fear(they know to much). So when i recieved my diagnosis we knew we would have to pick our words carefully. My daughter was five(a young five).
When we told them we shared that mommy had been to the Dr. The Dr told us that i might need to have a piece of my breast....before i was finished talking. Josh looked straight at me and ask "Do you have breast cancer are you going to die like Terry Fox" . We continued to talk but we only shared what we felt they needed to know or what we thought they could handle. There have been many tears for Josh because, he gets it. Mimosa just thinks i was sick and now better. Josh developed mild anxiety during the yr of treatment, loss of hair.
He tried very hard to be brave but he was a normal boy who was scared. Today he is a yr older as well a yr wiser. Breast Cancer month has come. He talks openly about wanting to find a cure. He is changed. One night sitting on the sofa together he looked at me " mom i think i would like to get a tatoo..i saw a beautiful angel
and it was dedicated to the memory of some one you love" I cry now when i remember this conversation.
I just looked at him in tears, well Josh i'm not planning on going any time soon. He laughed then said but i think it would be so nice for kids who's mom's got cancer.

There have been many more incredible moment. Like the time he came home from school wanting to buy a whole bunch of lotto tickets, so if he won he would give it all to finding a cure.
All children are different but this whole sh...disease has still allowed me so many teachable moments with my children. About compassion for other, never judge unless you've walked a mile in another childs shoes.
You never know what other children are dealing with at school so be sensitve and forgiving....it has been a journey!!
thanks for starting this dicussion.(maybe i wont need therapy after all...lol)
Suzanne