Todd,

I really don't have any stories to tell. I will have been diagnosed for two years next month. I went to the neuro for carpaltunnel and came out with a pd diagnosis. What a shock.

My children were 15, 20 and 26 (I married very young, LOL!). Everyone cried when we got together that night to share the news. They knew a little about pd, because my mom was dx w/it at age 70. Everyone cried.

Thus far, the way they are handling it, is to never speak of it....everyone, including my husband is still in denial.

Sorry, no funny stories here. My oldest daughter did comment once, that together we make one brain. LOL

Mary

I also thought I had Carpal Tunnel but the doctor got out his little hammer and quickly dispensed with that idea. My family seldom brings up PD. They are very helpful and supportive, though. I bring it up from time to time as my excuse for not doing certain chores. "I forgot to take out the garbage because I'm brain damaged."

All the best,


Lloyd

Thanks to all who've responded. The information you've provided is certainly helpful. If you think of anything else, you can PM me or email me at my website. Thanks so much!

Group hug!

...I have two beautiful children,a daughter who has just turned 15 years of age and a son who was 12 years of age last November.I have had the disease for about 12 years so that is all of my sons life and pretty much the same for my daughter.
They really don`t know me as being any different,except for when we look back through photo`s and my daughter will remark how well I looked way back then and be surprised to see me running in a photo,or swinging her round.It is when you engage in such trips down memory lane that the difference and decline is the most noticeable.
But...I have always retained a sense of humour where my illness is concerned,because of the somewhat difficult to witness symptoms,hence right from the start I made jokes about myself.
And told the kids I was writing a book called
101 things to do with a Parkinsons Patient..[remember the book 101 uses of a dead cat?] Apologies to all you feline lovers but when it came in print I was a teenager with this lame sense of hhumour,so I saw the funny side.

Back to MY book and I engaged the children into thinking up uses for me.
Their list was endless;
A power generator; A milk shake machine; A washing machine if they threw the laundry in the tub with me; A traffic or air controller poor drivers and piliots] THAT WOULD BE A SIGHT TO WITNESS.
A scarecrow [animated] A ball machine for practicing returns at tennis;
A two minute painter and decorator; Edward Scissorhands when wielding my electric hedgeclippers; ...I could go on.
The point I am making is,I was conscious that they wouldn`t become afraid of my worsening symptoms but would be able to smile through the seriousness of it all.And that kept me upbeat too.
However,my daughter did go through a difficult period when I was very ill and physically unable to do much...and during this time my son started to ask questions about dying.
That is the moment I knew to sit them down and talk on a level,answering their questions rather than feeding them too much.I took the lead from them..they governed how much or how little as someone so very rightly has already said.
Neither have expressed anger or bitterness.My son is a darling.Every day he comes home from school,finds me ,kisses me and asks how my day has been.Each morning his last words are "Love you mum"
My daughter is more independant of me,and could come over as a little selfish.I believe it is her way of dealing with it.I still make her "surprise " dresses...the last one being a Renaissance costume,with a seed pearl and fine wire headdress.I love doing the things I can still do and it is important for them to see me having a go even if i mess up.
I have just discovered something in a schoolbook which my son had written
entitled THE PERSON I ADMIRE...tears flowed on reading it it was so simple and beautiful [I will private mail it]

As a teacher,just before I retired age 40,I used to get the class to grade my handwriting on the chalkboard each morning.
Hows my brain doing today I would ask and they would give me marks out of 10. It broke the ice.

I guess it is good for children to know that life isn`t always fair at dealing out the cards,but that it is what you do with your "hand" that matters.
Until I read my sons writing about me,I thought I had failed too in many areas.It seems I haven`t done as badly as I thought,and by way of encouragement,you might be surprised to find that your children learn more about life from living with your illness,and reap richer rewards,than you initially thought.

I know I have learned that.
X

Very nicely expressed Steffi. Thanks so much for sharing...

Anyone else? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?