As the injured parent continues to rehabilitate, your family is learning hopeful ways of going on and is starting to make long-term plans. Encourage your child to view such changes as part of a journey and as a way for your family to continue to grow together.

Explain that the process isn’t over yet.

• You can say: “Getting better can take a long time.” In many cases, therapy will be ongoing, doctors and medicines may continue to be part of everyday life, and there maybe additional hospital stays.

Establish old and new routines together.

• As the situation changes, you may have to adjust these routines. When possible, keep big changes to a minimum, especially at first.
• Invite your child to think of new ways to do things. A parent who has given an arm could offer a one-armed hug. And a parent who has given a leg could start enjoying games of wheelchair tag or soccer. Try a weekend breakfast picnic or a family naptime lullaby!
• Now that everyone is home again, you may need to reassign responsibilities. Take care not to make your child feel as if he’s being demoted. Stress that you can all continue to share in everyday activities, but in a different way. After the readjustments, come up with some special, new family routines: Perhaps at the end of the week, each family member can tell about “the best thing of the week.” Or your family can enjoy a session of weekend evening stargazing, with a cup of cocoa or lemonade in hand. Do things that will bring you together!

Share accomplishments.

• Encourage your child to share his new accomplishments and skills with the newly returned parent. Your child has learned to hop, get dressed, and more. Enjoy these successes together. In the same way, your child can cheer when the injured parent masters a new skill or relearns a task.

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