Supportive Kids

Looks like we are raising some great kids! We asked: Are your children supportive and sympathetic regarding your arthritis? And you said:

Added December 12, 2001:

'My kid is 13 but as been great and accepting of me needing some extra
help on my bad days. He is has been more supportive than my husband' -Tammy

Added May 31, 2001:

"My kids didn't realize at first how much pain I was having. They also didnt realize it was going to have a permanent effect (neither did I) But any time I need help they are right there to lend a hand.They clean house ,help me up, walk to school, and bring me things that I need on my bad days. One day I was crying about having to accept the use of assistive devices and really fearing that I might end up in a wheelchair and my son said " Don't worry mom you won't have to be in a wheelchair I'll carry you." My youngest daughter told me one time when I went to a cheaper grocery store without the scooters . "come on moma we can just go through and throw things in the basket for 15 min. then I'll stand in line for you and write your check" and thats what we did. They are great kids that have had to take on a lot of grown up responsibility but not once have they complained.they are 14,15,and 16 and they always have a way of making me feel good about the whole thing like saying.'" Dont worry mom we need to learn responsibility anyway." Im so proud." -Stacy

 

"Yes, both of the my children are supportive and sympathetic even though they are only 4 and 2 years old. My two year old gives me a hand to try to pull my up out of a chair. I overheard my 4 year old telling his friend that "we need to make sure to help my mom out today." It doesn't get any better than that." -Sue

"Yes, my daughter has poly-articular jra so she knows how I feel and I also have a son who has jra and we suspect another son may have some form of arthritis also." -Teena

"Sometimes, most of the time my fatigue gets in the way of their lives." -Beth

"They are very supportive and sympathetic. My son, who is now ten, is determined that he will find a cure. If they ever get mad at the limitations, they never say stuff like I wish you weren't my mom, but they will say stuff like I wish there was no such thing as arthritis." -Maria

"They are, but I wonder if sometimes they aren't sick of hearing that I am "Too tied', although they never say so." -Barbara

"Mainly supportive, my son has juvenile ankylosing spondylitis (16)" -Stephanie

"Some of the time-they are teenagers and fairly self-centered at this point in their lives." -N.

"my children get frustrated and frightened, but in general, they're very supportive" -Cris

"Yes, my girls are very supportive and sympathetic to my arthritis, because both of them have a little touch of arthritis also and they are 17 & 12." -Pam

"My children are very supportive and sympathetic. I think it took a while for them to realize just how much this illness has taken over my life, and, in turn, their lives as well. My mom has repeatedly told them, "Your mother is not well." It's become an inside joke with us - when someone asks me how I am, I'll say, "I'm not well!!!"" -Lynn

"My children are very supportive. They learned compassion at an early age and that is a trait that has held fast into their adult years." -Diane2

"yes! And they know that sometime I have bad days.
I like to think that my RA has enriched their lives in a way - it's taught them to be sensitive to my symptoms on some days...and to help me with stuff around the house when I'm feeling lousy." -S.

Tell us about your supportive kids!