Today included another trip to the hospital, but this time it was to see the child psychologist and with children in tow.
It was a very useful meeting as it was the first time that we have visited with everyone knowing that my condition is now terminal. The depth of Boogle's anger was exposed and the children contributed much more than they have in the past.
The children both have sessions scheduled independently for themselves now and they both feel that they will be able to talk more openly on their own. The psychologist is very good with them and has their trust.
Kitten and I have found the sessions useful in helping us to keep evaluating what the situation needs. We are fairly adept on our own, but an external listening and guiding ear has also proved useful.
This is a free service that is provided courtesy of the NHS (though I believe that it relies on some kind of charitable trust donations) and it is a valuable one, in my opinion.
Yourself and Kitten are extremely brave in your approach in keeping the children informed. Being proactive and encouraging the kids to talk about their feelings is extremely positive and bodes well for the present and the future.
ReplyDeleteHeres to more of those "feeling good days"
Mick (Mugger)
Mugger,
ReplyDeleteour philosophy is based around the fact that kids notice everything anyway, so if you don't tell them then you are just lieing to them. That, I think, stores up trouble.
It is not easy this way but at least there are no time bombs up ahead. Just a difficult but, perhaps, slightly smoother pathway.
Cheers - Swordfish
Totally agree with Mugger. When my sister died she had 2 small children and the truth of the situation was kept from them. It was such a mistake.
ReplyDeleteThrough latter conversations with the children I discovered that they felt sidelined and shut out (whispers behind doors and people abruptly stopping a conversation when they walked in to the room). They felt resentful as so many well meaning people kept telling them "everything will be fine"
When she died they were totally unprepared something we all now regret.
I also think that the actions you and kitten are taking are brave and unselfish. I wish we had done the same.
I still hope there will be a "rabbit that gets pulled out of a hat" somewhere for you.
Best wishes
Changeling (Claire)
Thanks Changeling,
ReplyDeleteas regards the rabbit and the hat, it is as Jayo12 says "Whilst there is breath there is hope", but it would be scientifically "unusual" for me to recover.
Never say never, but plan for the likelihood!