孩子生病時相互支持的3種方法

1. Develop a support system
1.培養一個支持系統

You and your spouse will need to support each other so that taking care of your child is less stressful. You will need someone to talk to who understands what you are going through, and your spouse is the best person for that emotional support.
你和你的配偶需要互相支持，這樣你們在照顧孩子的時候就會壓力小一些。你需要和理解你處境的人交談，你的配偶是給你感情支持的最佳人選。

You can also find support groups that understand what you are going through. Hospitals may have support groups or know where to find them. Do not hesitate to join a group if you need to, and do not feel guilty about it. It is normal to have the feelings you might be having during this challenging time.
你也可以找到支持理解你的處境的團隊。醫院或許有支持團隊或者知道在哪可以找到他們。如果你需要的話，就不要猶豫去加入一個組織，不要因此感到愧疚。在這一挑戰的時刻，有這種感覺，是很正常的。

2. Share the care
2.分擔照料

The two of you can share caring for your child so that one of you does not get overwhelmed or overstressed. The American Psychological Association states that a study showed that moms and dads faced similar stressors when caring for an ill child, but moms had higher stress levels, probably because they are the child’s primary caregiver. Taking care of your child also means taking care of your spouse by sharing in the care you give your child.
你們雙方可以分享照顧分擔照顧孩子的壓力，這樣你們兩個人都不會感到難以承受或者壓力特別大。美國心理協會陳述說一個研究表明媽媽和爸爸在照顧生病的孩子的時候，面臨相似的壓力源，但是媽媽的壓力會更大，可能是因爲媽媽是孩子最初的照料者。照顧孩子也意味着通過分擔給孩子的關愛來照料你的配偶。

3. Be a support team for your child
3.做孩子的支持團隊

Not only is your child having to deal with the physical side of the illness, but he also has to deal with the emotional and social side of it as well. Children will feel isolated, depressed, and lonely. Provide opportunities for your child to experience his childhood as much as possible.
你的孩子不僅需要應對身體方面的疾病，他還需要處理感情和社會方面的問題。孩子會感覺孤立，失望和孤獨。儘可能要給孩子機會去體驗他的童年。

If your child is able to attend school, he will be faced with uncomfortable situations that leave him feeling like an outcast. This is especially distressing to children as they just want to fit in and be “normal.”
如果你的孩子能夠去上學了，他講面臨不舒服的情況，會讓他感覺自己像是被驅逐的人。因爲孩子只想適應學校環境，做“正常”的孩子，這讓他們感到很痛苦。

Help your child know what to tell kids who ask questions about his illness. Be a support team, but don’t be overprotective either. Be there for him in the way that he needs, or find the professional help he needs.
幫助你的孩子，讓他知道當有孩子問到他的疾病的時候，應該怎麼回答。做他的支持團隊，但是不要也過度保護。在他需要的時候陪在他的身邊，或者尋找他需要的專業幫助。