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Conference moira::parenting

Title:Parenting
Notice:Previous PARENTING version at MOIRA::PARENTING_V3
Moderator:GEMEVN::FAIMANY
Created:Thu Apr 09 1992
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1292
Total number of notes:34837

53.0. "4 year old handling change" by NEST::JRYAN () Wed Apr 22 1992 14:11

My four-year old, Marc, has a very special relationship with his only
Grampy (my Dad). Its two-way. Major hero worship on my son's part. 

Grampy had a stroke this winter while he was at his winter home in Florida. 
We visited my Mom after a wonderful week at Walt Disney World with another 
couple and their boys, last month. Marc was able to see Grampy at the 
hospital just once. Of course the visit this year to Florida (we go every 
year) was not like other ones - no Grampy, focus on visiting the hospital, 
supporting Grammy, etc).

They are back home in New England now, and my Dad is making wonderful 
progress - his speech is affected, right arm, and right leg. He needs to 
use a wheelchair for sometime to come.

Marc does not want to discuss his feelings, has said a few times he does
not want to vist Grampy and is generally having a tough time handling the
change. We talk about many things, and I keep trying to get him to share
with me what he is thinking. In Florida we talked about how the stroke was
not his fault - he said he thought it was (I don't know if he thought it
really was - we offered that as a problem, and he bit).

Last night I told him we would (just us guys) go see Grammy and Grampy 
tonight. He agreed, without any other comment.

My question to you folks that may have dealt with such a situation before, 
or anybody with some advice -

How do I help my son cope and/or not disappoint Grampy?

Jeff
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53.1therapy?WMOIS::DIPASQUALE_SWed Apr 22 1992 14:2818
    I have had somewhat of the same type of situation with my daughter, and
    I have found that no matter how hard you try to get the child to open
    up, you may not be asking the right questions, or asking them in a way
    that they can understand. You may feel what you are doing is the best 
    way, but sometimes we are just to close to be able to stand back and
    look at it in a removed type of way.
    I brought my daughter to see a therapist at the age of five and was
    stunned at the ease in which she got my daughter to open up. 
    Her techniques were so natural and at ease. I was saying to myself "Why
    didn't I think of that?"
    I guess my point is as much as you love your children sometimes we as 
    parents can't always find the solutions and that we need help, and that
    its OK to need help.
    
    Good Luck.
    
    Sherry
    I 
53.2PROSE::BLACHEKWed Apr 22 1992 15:4011
    There also must be books that deal with this subject.  I'd go to a good
    children's bookstore and ask a clerk to help.  If you live near
    Southern New Hampshire, Book Nooks and Crannies in Pennichuck Square in
    Nashua would be a good one.
    
    If the store doesn't have a book, they should be able to order one.
    
    I really feel for you.  Both your son and your father must feel
    abandoned.  
    
    judy 
53.3FDCV07::HSCOTTLynn Hanley-ScottWed Apr 22 1992 19:319
    Often kids can't articulate in words what's going on, but they
    can/might in drawings. Perhaps suggesting that your child try drawing a
    picture for Granpa, or OF Granpa......
    
    Another thing I do sometimes is make up a story about something similar
    to what I think is going on, and see if that elicits any comments.
    
    best of luck,
    
53.4use a play situationTNPUBS::STEINHARTLauraThu Apr 23 1992 12:024
    You could try using stuffed animals or dolls to play out a similar
    situation, in which the little child visits his sick Grampy.  Your son
    may more readily express his feelings indirectly through a doll.  (This
    is a common technique used by child psychologists.)
53.5contact local rehabs for supportAKOCOA::TRIPPThu Apr 23 1992 13:2125
    You said grampa is at home now in "new england", from that I can't tell
    exactly where, but I do have personal knowledge that there are several
    rehabilitation centers in MA with Stroke support groups for families,
    many of these have groups just geared to children.  Also check with
    your local visiting nurses, the Worcester VNA has a stroke (and an
    alzheimers as well) support group for families, as does Umass medical
    in Worcester.  The rehabs I can think of off-hand are Spaulding rehav
    in Boston, New England rehab in Woburn, (I think it's called) Shaunessy
    rehab in Salem MA, and Whittier rehab in Haverhill MA.
    
    Umass medical has a psycologist which deals with children in trauma,
    and is very good at getting kids to talk about what's bugging them.
    
    You might try one of those "breakfast table" type conversations over a
    bowl of whatever some morning when you're not too rushed.
    
    Most of these groups are free of charge, and have had great results. 
    Perhaps whatever agency or hospital he is dealing with has some kind of
    support group.
    
    Good luck, my mother had her first of many strokes at 49, and another
    the next year 3 months before my wedding, it was a real emotional
    rollercoaster until we finally lost her 7 years ago.
    
    Lyn
53.6Wait until he is ready to talk about itMAYES::SKOWRONEKThu Apr 23 1992 16:2117
    Every child handles stress (yes, this is a stress situation)
    differently.  The only advise I can say to you is just to let your son
    know that you are there for him if and when he needs to talk.  Your son
    will talk to you, but wait until he is ready to talk, don't pressure
    him into talking about something, that maybe he just isn't ready to
    talk about.  I lost my mother last summer, and my daughter was
    extremely close to her.  My daughter dealth with my mother's death
    extremely well for a child.  I talked to her alot, and she knew that
    the door was open if she ever wanted to talk about Gram, and she does.  
    
    At the weirdest moments, she will bring up Gram, but she does it when
    she wants to, not when I do.
    
    Just my 2 cents.
    
    Debby