how do I tell my 4 year old grandson his mother is in a rehabillitation centre for alcoholism?

Answer 1

You should just tell him she is sick and seeking treatment options. However, you should avoid going into details as he is way too young to understand them.

Answer 2

I would just tell your grandson that mum is poorly and has gone to a hospital clinic until she is well enough to come home again.

At four, grandson is far too young to take on board any more details than that right now.
at least his mum IS getting help that she needs, all power and credit to her for it

Answer 3

very hard for a 4 yr. old to understand that...you can tell him mommy is sick,and she's is at a special hospital that will make her well...and soon she will come home to you..she should be able to at least call him.and I've visited friends in rehab..he should visit and it reminds her of why she needs to give up her addiction and get "well"..Remember alcohol and drugs is an addiction and the abuser needs family support at this time,,,not judgement.

Answer 4

Little kids are a lot more aware of things than you would give them credit...

Tell him that his mommy is very ill and needs to be in a place where she can get better.

Level with him about the kind of illness that she has - there are some illnesses that are easy to cure - like a cold or the flu. There are some illnesses that you get shots to prevent - like measles, polio or mumps. AND there are some illnesses that can only be controlled - like diabetes, epilepsy - and alcoholism. Mommy has one of these kinds of illnesses.

She needs medicine, rest and a lot of help from her family to keep her illness under control. That doesn't mean that mommy won't get sick again - and if she does it won't be because everyone didn't try really really hard to help her.

So when she gets home, let's everyone be really proud of her hard work.

Answer 5

Hi!

All a 4 y/old needs to know is that his mommy is away for a while, but she'll be back soon and that she loves him very much. There's no way he'll understand all the rest of it. Just keep him occupied, love him a lot, and pray rehab works, for all your sakes.

Hang in there!

Answer 6

I would tell him that she is not well but has gone away to get help to get better. The alcohol addiction bit is too complicated for him right now, and if he happens to tell his friends who tell their parents it may lead to people being judgemental about it and nasty to him. He will want to know that she is ok, and above all, coming back. And that its not his fault she has gone. Kids have a different spin on things.

Answer 7

At that age I don't think you need to go into too much detail, would say something like "she's feeling unwell at the moment & has gone to get some treatment like when we take you to see the doctor","hopefully she'll be better soon as she want's to be well enough for when she next come's to see you so you can have lot's of fun together"!.

Answer 8

talk to the center where mom is ,find out if they have books in story form that a child his age would understand , tell him in a loving way, go to the library ,they some times have books , let him know mommie needs to get better to take care of him the right way.She went away because she love him very much

Answer 9

You should absolutely NOT tell either your grandson or anyone else that his mother is in rehab. Just say, "Mummy is not well but the doctors are going to make her better."

Answer 10

You don't have to mention the reason why she's in the rehab. hospital, just explain that she's not doing too good and she's going to be at the hospital until she get better. That's all a child need to hear, and he'll understand.

Answer 11

If he asks then just tell him that mommy is away right now and will be back very soon then asks him if he wants to draw a picture to send her to let her know that he loves and misses her. Keep letting him know that no matter where mommy is she loves and misses him too.