As a parent, you’ll want to help your child at all times in every way. If they have been involved in an accident that resulted in a serious injury, perhaps even meaning that they need to use a wheelchair (whether on a temporary basis or for the rest of their lives), it might be difficult to know how to deal with the aftermath. After all, you’ll be feeling distressed, and therefore it might be hard to think clearly, especially when it comes to the best ways to help your injured child. This is perfectly natural, but keeping a clear head is important and knowing what to do is crucial. Here are some things to consider.
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Understand Fears And Worries
When a child has gone through something traumatic, they may not have the language skills or even understanding to really deal with it. This is especially true if they are very young, but even older children and teenagers can find this a big problem. Coming to terms with living in a different way and perhaps not able to do the things they did before – or at least not so easily – will often be both upsetting and frustrating.
To help your child, it’s important you understand these fears and concerns that are now plaguing them. Pay attention to them, and learn the signs that show they are upset or uncomfortable. They may not be able to tell you (or they may not want to tell you, as they might think it will upset you), but if you can spot the signs and help them through the difficult situation, that will help immensely. Over time, this will become easier, and your child will most likely open up more as well.
Adapt Your Lifestyle
Although it might be tempting to try to keep things as normal as possible and stick to your usual routines, this might actually be making things worse somehow. Routine is good, and the more you can stick to it, the better, but you must be aware that there are issues with this, and it’s important to know when to adapt instead of trying to keep things the same.
If, for example, your routine involves a lot of fresh air and outside activity, trying to get your injured child – perhaps in a wheelchair or with other mobility issues – to be involved might be difficult. You won’t want to change things completely, but you can have a good middle ground by adapting your routine. This could mean going to an expert to have mobility cars explained, for example, or finding new activities to do that are wheelchair accessible.
Deal With Your Own Feelings
The best way to help someone else is to help yourself first. This might sound selfish, and as a parent, this won’t feel right to begin with, but it’s actually crucial. How will you be able to be there to help your injured child recover if you are stressed and anxious? You need to understand how you are feeling and deal with those emotions, perhaps by seeing a therapist or joining an online forum. Even videos or books can be helpful. Once you are feeling better and understand what you are feeling and what has happened, you can then go on to take good care of your child.
You’ll be able to pass on all the useful information you have gained by dealing with your own feelings, helping them feel better.
