Parenting Principles

Parents know their children best. Together they have negotiated many challenges and transitions. By reflecting on the strategies that have helped your child with smaller challenges, you may find clues for ways to support him now. An understanding of the interplay between temperament, development, communication skills, and your child’s perspective on your illness guides the parenting information offered in this section.

Several areas that are commonly of interest or concern to parents with cancer are covered here. Each is intended to offer guiding principles to help you negotiate parenting challenges associated with illness. Some may be of relevance to you and others may not. Many parents have found that even reading about topics that do not seem relevant to their situation may be helpful because information in these sections can be adapted to address their concerns, too.