How do you encourage a child?

Question

Could we give my son a gift this morning. After a very difficult year on many levels, my son who is 11 found out a few days ago that he's going to need to get an injection every day for the next 3 or 4 years. He has already been pretty worn down from many other events in his life. What do you do to encourage a child and do you have any words for him? He reads Yahoo Answers with me sometimes and I think this will encourage him. Thanks :)

Thank you for these! I'm writing them down in a little book. (Well, the non-hateful ones! :) ) When we are in the docs office waiting I'll give it to him to read, to give him courage. We will be taking a "class" in how to give the shots in a few days and this is the perfect thing for him to do instead of being anxious. Big hugs to my friends!

Answer 1

Jack! Dude! Injections are not all that bad, really. You just have to convince your mom to make some rules on it.

Let's see, what would be some good injection rules? Eh..

How about this?
- 1 week of taking injections without complaining means you don't have to do the dishes
-2 weeks of taking injections without complaining means you have a "get-out-of-trouble-for-free card"
-1 months of taking injections with a smile means your mom has to take you to an amusement park.

I'm sure you and your mom can even make up some rules that are more fun than these!

Good luck, and it's really not all that bad. If you can handle them, it means you're a strong boy. Some other kids will even be jealous of how well you can handle them!

Answer 2

Hi there LJ's son. I hope you don't get a warped view of humanity from what you sometimes see on Yahoo Answers. But your mom is a very popular figure here and it's testament both to that and to what she feels for you that she's come here to ask for any support for you while you get to grips with a difficult few years. I think you know your mom really, really cares that you aren't in discomfort or distress and it would mean a lot if, even when things get difficult, you bore that in mind. She will give you strength, and hopefully that will help you find your own.

The other thing is that while your lot might be less good than your friends', try to think of what is better about it than others. Kids sometimes need injections for life, or are somehow in pain and difficulty. A good lesson in life is to stop every now and again and ask yourself, "Am I better off than most, or worse off?" - and be self-critical. For one, there are boys who don't have a parent so interested in their happiness and self-confidence.

Also, injections are something that we have to be grateful for - and I speak as someone officially phobic about hypodermic needles - because in past times our only option was deteriorating health. Living now means we have access to good healthcare and drugs, which however unpleasant it may seem, is better than the alternative.

So be strong - be brave - time will pass and you'll be fine.

(And you know, I don't know if LJ isn't actually asking because she's more scared than you are - you need to look out for her too, keep her spirits up! ;o) )

Answer 3

I'm really sorry to hear that. I hope that what will be endured over the next few years will help and bring some much-needed relief.

There is so much said about the resiliency of children, and that is very true. More important than that, though, is the fact that what is learned in childhood is carried through into your life as an adult, and the lessons of courage and perseverance are among the most important. And being there for your child will hopefully teach them that helping, supporting and being there for others is the best gift we can give to anyone.

Good luck. :)

Answer 4

Ugh! I hate injections! And I'm sorry you need them.

Sometimes when I have something difficult I have to do, I concentrate on just a little bit of it. Don't look at the years, but just look at the few seconds it takes. You can do anything for a few seconds.

One of my favorite sayings is "The only way out is through." Think of yourself as a warrior on a journey (maybe you could make yourself a map or a journal of your journey). You'll have battles along the way, and some days may be hard, but you'll get through them and you will have accomplished something.

You don't have to get from here to there in a day. You just have to fight each day's battle as it comes. I would write quotes on my map or in my journal (but I'm a girl, and I love quotes. Maybe you can think of something creative to add to your project that's more manly. ;o)

At the end of it, you'll have something really cool to look back on.

I'm sorry that you are going through this, but I know you can come out of it stronger and better. Life is funny that way. Sometimes it hides gifts in what looks like misfortune. Your quest is to find the gifts.

Answer 5

Just one little ol' injection each day? Come on, he's gonna be thinking about sports and school and chicks will come along soon. That injection will be such a brief, minor thing each day that he won't even notice it before long. He's got so many great things to think about and to experience, all these silly events will just look like stepping stones before you even know it.

It all just adds some spice to life. What kid wants their life to be boring? He's gonna have way too much going on to hardly think about an injection or the past events. I'll wish him the best in all he chooses to accomplish.

Answer 6

Whenever there are difficult things coming up it's of a great help if there are also good things to look forward to. If he always wanted a pet, maybe now is the time to get one? Or finally get around to starting a really fun hobby or spend more time with an existing one. Not knowing what he enjoys I am not starting with recommendations as there are millions of possibilities. But while everybody will encounter inevitably bad things, if there are also good things to look forward to and hope that it will get eventually better will make it more bearable. Good luck.

Answer 7

Winston Churchill always said never never never never give up in whatever u do in life. In life your are going to face many challenges and through your faith and believing in Jesus Christ you will overcome anything. If life dole out a bunch of lemons the best you can do is make lemonade with, always look at the bright side of life. Never give up you will always conquer thing in life. the military have a saying, Never give up, always adapt and conquer and you will always come out on top. If you look at this as a challenge like all of the other challenges that you have conquered so far this one, you will see this one has one of the easiest of the all.

Answer 8

I usually try to talk to mine in the most adult way that I think they can handle, if that makes sense? And Jack: Hang in there, sweetie; things are going to start being a lot better soon. I saw your answer to a question last night, and I think you're a very intelligent kid. You're bound to become a really great guy even though you might be having problems now :)

Answer 9

Sometimes, people have to undergo pain or discomfort in order to achieve a goal. His goal is life, and that's what it sounds like the shots will continue to give to him.

Even after four years of shots, that will put him at 15, and still in high school (probably a sophomore) -- still very young. The shots aren't taking away from his life; they'll eventually be adding to it.

Best to both of you.

Answer 10

Well my message is that young man, you are on the road to growing up and sickness, health all are part of the different colours we experience as we grow up. Look forward to a healthy and successful life if you take care of your self and advance in school.
One day you will be looking out your office window and smiling at the needles that actually helped you get there. You might have so much happiness in the time to come that this period of colorlessness will be but a blotch in your head.
Spare a moment to smile, my friend and look forward to living a good life.
Cheers & God bless.