This may seem like a difficult task for many parents of a chronically ill child. However, it is very important for parents to take care of themselves. They must get the rest and nourishment they need in order to have the energy required to care for their child. Parents who are exhausted and stressed-out often have a difficult time making good decisions regarding their child's care and are often unable to provide quality support to their child. It is critical that parents look after their own physical and mental health for the benefit of their whole family.
Children are very perceptive.
They know when their parents are upset or worried. If parents of a chronically ill child let their worries and anxieties show, they run the risk of increasing their child's anxieties. Children follow their parents' example on how to react to difficult situations. If parents are not handling the stress well, then the chances are great that their child will also have problems coping. Children with chronic illnesses often don't know how or what to tell others about their illness.