Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of motherhood with chronic illness is helping your children understand what is going on with your body and encouraging acceptance about how your illness may impact them. How can you help them develop empathy about what you’re experiencing, especially if your illness is invisible? Where’s the line between being honest and making them worry? What’s the best way to address their concerns in kid-friendly language? This is a topic that will likely need to be an ongoing discussion in your family – and sometimes reading a book together can help!
Because there are only a few books available that specifically feature a parent who lives with a chronic illness, we’re branching out to books that focus on other types of illness, books that focus on children with illness, and books that talk about feelings. Hopefully these reviews will help you determine whether any of these books might be a good fit for your family discussions!
The Kissing Hand
by Audrey Penn
Emily Clemens received a copy of this book as a gift from Mamas Facing Forward. She was not compensated for this review and all opinions are her own.
This book was perfect for preparing to send my daughter off to Kindergarten. It addresses separation and associated fears and provides reassurance that loved ones are always there in your heart, even if they aren’t there in person. It addresses feelings of fear, worry, and discomfort, and acknowledges that these feelings are extremely normal, they’re okay, and there are ways to handle them. It’s displayed through the character of a child raccoon, which I feel makes the story fun for children and more engaging for them.
Oddly enough, right after I got this book, it was the focus of my daughter’s first day at school and they made their own “kissing hand” that they sent home. It helped facilitate conversations about going to school, being away from mom, and navigating uncomfortable emotions. It provides a coping mechanism for little ones who may not be familiar with these emotions just yet and empowers them. It is definitely great for children at younger ages who are facing a big transition, and one that pulls that away from mom or another caregiver for a period of time. It can also apply to caregivers who need to take their own time away and provide comfort to their children.
I love that it utilizes the animal theme, which is always a hit with my children. The illustrations are also beautiful, capturing and keeping attention. I found the colors and shapes to be extremely soothing to fit the theme of the book. I highly recommend for other caregivers and children, and look forward to reading it in preparation for other transitions!
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