I have a son who is asthmatic. For those of you with children who have the condition, you know it can be a terrifying thing to watch your child suffer through an attack. He was diagnosed at about 2 years of age by his pediatrician. We took him to a pediatric pulmonologist in an effort to assure ourselves that we were doing all we could to control the condition, which included twice daily doses of Pulmicort, a once daily regimen of Singulair, and always being armed with an albuterol inhaler in case of an attack. He assured us that we were, and since starting on this combination treatment, we’ve seen a dramatic reduction in the number and severity of attacks our son suffers through. I’m told that asthma in kids can be a transient condition, and I dearly hope that’s true, but we’re not willing to let our guard down for fear of a relapse.
Asthma In Kids
One thing that pains me to watch my son suffer through is the “… I can’t do it…” syndrome. He’s young, but knows he has a physical limitation, and I’ve watched him get discouraged with it at times. I’ve also watched him just decide to quit, rather than find a way to work around the limitation. Although the asthma is a condition that can cause problems and must be watched, I worry almost as much about him using that as an excuse for not being successful. One example that really stuck with me occurred last year when we had the kids out walking some park trails. He started complaining that he was tired and said “… I can’t do it…” He was working hard, but hearing him say that broke my heart. He was ready to quit, and let us carry him. We almost did, but at the last moment, I asked my wife to walk on ahead while he and I took a break. We sat down on a park bench and talked for 5-10 minutes. He proceeded to tell me how hard it was for him. I resolved that as long as he wasn’t in any sort of distress, he needed to complete that walk to restore his confidence. So, with his inhaler in my pocket, we took to the task of completing our walk. To his credit, he finished it with no problems, and expressed a sense of accomplishment. The smile on his face said it all.
What got me thinking about this was a published report that states that a parent’s approach to coping with asthma in kids affects how well the condition is controlled, and how well children cope with its impact everyday life. Reading the results made me feel better about how we handled that situation. It seems we walk a tightrope in managing this condition. If we don’t actively manage it, the results could be too horrific contemplate. But if we overdo it, we could handicap him for life by giving him an excuse for not being successful. It’s worrying.
Whoever said that being a parent was the most difficult job in the world certainly got it right.
Your child is fortunate to have you as a parent.
He looks to you for guidance and support.
thanks for the link to the great article. I may use it sometime in my blogs, if that’s ok.
Thanks for the kind words. Feel free to use it.