Talking to Kids About Cancer

Talking about cancer is hard. Talking about cancer to a nine year old is a special kind of hard. 

We called a family meeting with my kid, her dad, her stepdad @beewood17 and me. We asked if she knows what cancer is, and we told her about my diagnosis. More importantly, we told her our plan of action to fight it and how happy we are to have caught it early. 

We let her ask questions. She asked to see my biopsy scars, and I showed her. She asked to touch my lump, and I let her. She named my tumor “Ted” and now has a song about it. 

Kids are amazing. I find it hilarious and so sweet that she felt the need to mention my soon-to-be boob-less body in her Valentine’s Day card. I’m sorry she has to face this at the age of nine, but I’m hopeful this will be but a memory a few years from now. The meeting ended with her skipping away, saying “That was a fun family meeting!” That’s a good sign - every small win adds up to a victory.