Nothing is worse than seeing your child in pain as a parent. A catastrophic mishap can be a devastating experience for the entire family. Imagine your child facing a life-changing injury such as an amputation, traumatic brain injury, or spinal cord injury. The after-effects of such injuries are often permanent and result in lifelong challenges for your child. Dealing with the unfortunate situation is equally daunting for parents. The expense of the treatment and suffering of your child makes it hard to cope with. But you must do your bit to help your child live with the life-changing injury. Here are some tips to get through and play your parental role well.
Get hold of your emotions
The physical pain and emotional suffering your child goes through after a life-changing experience is immense. As a parent, it can hit you equally hard. You may experience a mix of emotions, from grief to anger, guilt, and frustration. These negative emotions can affect your mental health and ability to think clearly. You cannot help your child in such a state of mind, so getting hold of your emotions should be a priority. It enables you to deal with the situation better, get help for the child, and take measures to make them independent despite the disability. Moreover, you must maintain your sanity to fulfill your responsibility towards the other children in the family.
Prepare for emotional changes
When a child sustains a life-changing injury, emotional changes are imperative just like the physical ones. After all, they are the ones suffering the most. Expect withdrawal with the child showing no interest in doing things they enjoyed before the accident. Sleeping problems, nightmares, fear, irritability, and aggression are other common emotional changes children come across after major mishaps. Consider them as mental health issues and seek treatment from an expert. These behavioral changes may be recurring even after the treatment, so make sure you get help on time.
Claim compensation
You cannot overlook the financial aspect of life-changing injuries as they can press your family budget immensely. Your child will require medical treatment, rehab, and therapy sessions. You may even have to spend on modifications to your home for better accessibility. The best way to keep your finances afloat is by claiming compensation from the person whose negligence caused the mishap. You can collaborate with a seasoned personal injury lawyer to get the maximum compensation to cover the costs of the injury and its implications. Although the money cannot reverse your child’s health problems, it can get their life on track and secure their future.
Create a routine for your child
At this point, restoring normalcy for the child should be a priority. It is crucial for yourself and other children as well. Help the child ease into a routine at home. Send them back to school if you have the option. The kid may be reluctant, but this measure can make it easy to regain independence in the long run. Do not treat them differently, but have the same rules and expectations as before. The last thing you want to do is spoil the kid with special treatment. Look for ways to involve them in family chores so that they feel just like their siblings.
Build resilience
Besides restoring a daily routine, you must take steps to build long-term resilience in the child despite their disability. You may feel guilty about letting the situation happen, but the mindset can affect emotional healing for you and the kid. Focus on making them strong and independent. Have honest conversations about their disability and plan for academics and career in the long run. The last thing you should do is shelter and overprotect your child from the hard challenges they may face ahead in life. Rescuing your kid from discomfort and frustration every time will only make them weak. Kids are far tougher than you imagine, so give them support and let them spread their wings.
Life-changing injuries are not easy to live with, but you can be your child’s cheerleader and help them with a strong comeback. The key lies in dealing with your emotions first because they may hinder your kid’s recovery. Once you learn to manage your negative feelings, focus on helping the kid cope with their fears. Resume normalcy at home and treat them just like everyone else in the family. A little boost will give them all the confidence and mental strength they need to become an independent person despite their physical and emotional challenges.
