Any tips or suggestions for a child dealing with a parent

with a terminal illness? How do you juggle everything? How do you find time to go to the hospital when you work and have small children?

Re: Any tips or suggestions for a child dealing with a parent

When my mom was sick, I was extremely thankful for my inlaws!
They helped out tremendously.
There were a few nights where I just went to the hospital with my dad and DH stayed home with the kids.

ETA: My mom was in ICU and the visiting hours were I believe 8-9PM or 7-9PM something like that.
I never went during the day. It was impossible.

Message edited 11/5/2009 1:54:17 PM.

Re: Any tips or suggestions for a child dealing with a parent

At first I worked out a flexible schedule with work. I worked extra hours so I could have a day off. I also worked from home one day a week.
Eventually I had to take a leave of absence. I was my mom's primary caretaker. She was divorced, her fiance lived in CA, my sister and borther couldn't afford to miss work, and my grandparents were too old and had their own health problems. That left me - but I wouldn't have had it any other way. My mom and I were best friends and I would do anything for her.
When it came to the point she needed 24 hour care, I slept with her 5 nights a week. And even when she went into the hospice facility, the family agreed to never leave her alone. We worked out a schedule with everyone, but I was still there for the majority of the time. I slept there 4-5 nights a week, got "relieved" at about 1-2pm, went home until about 6-7pm then came back for the night. My DH was OK with Landon at night, and my MIL really stepped up and took him during the day. There was about a month when I didn't see Landon for more than an hour a day. It was very very hard.
My advice would be to see if your job would allow you to work a flexible schedule and to line up as much help as you can with the kids.
If I can do it, so can you!