When people talk about their parents, they often describe them as superheroes they can rely on when times get tough. Parents are the ones that teach their children how to be stronger and resilient, to aspire to great things and be the best they can be. However, parents are people. When they get hit by a car, they break bones. When you get a personal injury due to an unfortunate accident, parenting might be a tricky affair as your usual duties may not be possible without extending your recovery time. This can be stressful and agitating, especially when you and your children have a household routine.
When you have to recover from a personal injury, effective parenting might seem difficult. However, it’s not impossible. Perhaps this is the time for the household to prove just how amazing parents can be, as your injury might pave the way for effective parenting and more efficient household management. These handy tips on effective parenting while coping with a personal injury might help you out.
According to the Injured Workers Support Network, parenting with an injury isn’t uncommon. In fact, there are families around the world with parents with injuries and disabilities. The IWSN article states that there are around 380,000 families in Australia with at least one parent possessing a disability. Some of them gotta do it right, eh?
Explaining the Situation Helps
One of the trickiest parts of parenting while coping with a personal injury is the reality that you can’t be as attentive to your children the way you used to. This is because the personal injury may force you to focus on yourself and less about your children. This doesn’t mean you will totally neglect them, of course, and this is something that they should understand as well. As soon as you go home, you should sit down and talk to your children. The situation might be difficult for them to understand, especially if they are little.
- Children, especially young children, can get curious and inquisitive at times, which means something “new” to them, such as your situation, might grab their attention. Use this opportunity to tell them just what your personal injury is, and how your recovery works.
- Try as much as possible to explain your situation to your children without resorting to using complicated terms, and without worrying them. You may explain how you gained the injury, its impact on your body, and how long it might take for you to recover. Information like these could at least give your children an idea on the degree of your injury.
- You may also explain to them how the injury might impact them. Sometimes, certain injuries may prevent you from doing things that you usually do for them, so another person will have to do it for them in the meantime, or they can do those activities themselves.
The Right Time For Discipline
In fact, building upon the last point above, your personal injury might even work out for the better. Try to assess the kind of household you have and the kind of responsibilities you’ve had as a parent prior to your injury. If your children have been made aware of your injury and how it can affect you, they might realize that you won’t be able to wash the dishes, cook for them, and so on. With shock and horror, they might realize they have to do it themselves.
- This is an excellent opportunity to teach your kids to be independent. Let them see their impact on you and the household. Make them feel proud of their responsibility. Complement them, thank them, consider rewarding their good behavior.
- If your children haven’t had to do a lot of chores, or if they lack the work ethic to do chores prior to your injury, then this might be the right time for you to teach them how to be more independent and have useful life skills.Learning how to do the dishes, cook for themselves, and other skills will help them in the future.
Get Help You Need
Parents are regarded as superheroes for what they do for their kids, but in the moments of injuries, asking for help isn’t so bad an idea.
- When we talk about help, it can be personal help from your spouse or even close relatives. If you have a partner, it’s important to explain the situation to them and just what you might not be able to do that they can be able to assist with. If your spouse is doing something for the household that you can do on their behalf, perhaps you can switch duties for now.
- If a spouse is unavailable, if work takes away their attention, or if you don’t have a spouse at all, consider seeking help from other loved ones. A nearby friend or neighbor that is kind enough to help can also be of great assistance. You may ask them to help you by doing some chores, getting the kids to school, or running errands.
- You may also get professional help, such as babysitters, that could assist you with the management of the household. Having people experienced enough to handle particular household matters can at least give you the assurance that a professional is on the case.
- Other professionals such as therapists can also help you ground yourself and your parenting, especially if you are having doubts about your capabilities as a parent after the injury. Their guidance can help you reacquaint yourself with your environment and understand how your injury affects your kids.
In fact, research from The Ochsner Journal states that doctor-patient talks can lead not only to better medical understanding but can be therapeutic for patients. In a study conducted by Jennifer Fong Ha and her peers in 2010, communication between patients and doctors can help patients better digest information related to their situation and treatment.
Conclusion
If there’s anything this article may have imparted unto you, it’s that takes a bit of creativity, patience, and teamwork for parents to be good parents while coping with a personal injury. Granted, new systems you may have in place can take time getting used to, especially when you have to recuperate from car accident injury. However, if there’s anything your journey as a parent so far may have taught you, it’s that when hard times are about, your family has the strength to endure them. If you want to learn more details, click here.