Telling Kids You're Sick

Someone's response to my other question prompted this question - how have you, if you have, told your children about your illness? My kids know "mommy's sick" or "mommy isn't feeling well", but I never had an actual label to give them so I didn't.

I'm not sure how scared any of them are, they don't seem scared, and my 4 year olds probably don't really know much. But I'm not sure how exactly to handle it with my 8 year old.

I don't know how much detail to go into, whether I should talk about Lyme and ticks and being careful, but I don't want to scare her / them. I mostly don't want them to be worried that I'm going to die, because I know that can be a terrible fear for kids, especially once they associate dying with some illnesses. My twins I don't think much of it yet, and while my 8 year mostly thinks dying is for the elderly, I know she's making connections about illnesses and death.

How frank have you been?

I didn't tell my children anything when I was sick. They were younger, 4 and 5. They don't remember any of it. They are 9 and 10 now. I am glad that I didn't tell them because they don't understand a whole lot at that age.

Now my son (10) is sick--he got bit in 2013 and my younger daughter (5) is sick--she got bit in 2014. I don't tell them of my symptoms even now because kids do get scared and worried and they really need to feel safe in order for their immune system to work at full speed and deal with flu/cold/etc. I believe by not have an emotional stressor we all heal faster from whatever we deal with.

But you should do what you think Is best for your family. I only told them that I was bit by a tick after My son and daughter were bit. They also saw a tick when I pulled the one from my daughter's body. I would not go into much detail because we don't really know how the are affected by it, no matter how strong they seem. I think that may do more harm than good at this age.

My opinion...

Thanks for comments and advice! I do know we need to figure out what we're comfortable with, the input will definitely aid in that!

That was very helpful bluebyyou, thank you!