But more importantly, my daughter is having stomachaches and I am sure they are a reaction to my stuff. I don't want to tell her I got bit by a tick, because I don't want her to be scared of being bit. But I have to tell her and my son somthing more than mommy doesn't feel well.

Can someone share with me how you explain it to your kids so they understand(as much as they can) without being scared or confused.

Thanks!!!!!!!

AMY

I wish I could tell you but I don't have kids, just two doggies...I'm sure Jamie will jump in, she has two small ones at home.

Did you try telling them you "Caught a bug" and it will take sometime, and you don't mean to yell and not want to do things with them, its just the "Bug" causing this...Just keep reassuring them that you "Love them" and on your "Good Days" you will be active with them, but on the "Bad Days" you just can't.

Being that small I know it has to be hard on them and you..

Hang in there, someday this has to end for all of us...

Julie

I am not sure how long you have been sick for, but I have been worsening since summer of 2004. I have 3 kids...now ages 8 (almost 9), 5 and 4. I am divorced and was raising them on my own..they would visit their father every weekend. I had them on my own for about 1 1/2 years or so and had to make the decision for them to live with their father. I had no energy to care for them. I was working then had to come home and care for the kids. I couldn't do it anymore. They have been living with their father for 1 1/2 years now or so. I didn't know what was wrong with me until recently, however I am still trying to get the correct treatment.

I tell the kids I am sick and sometimes I am very tired. I tell them they are better at their daddy's house right now. I visit them at least 3 times a week (it is almost an hour drive to their house). I keep them overnight sometimes on the weekend. I told my oldest daughter that it was because of a tick. I would rather her be aware of them and to make sure she checks herself and her brother and sister after they have played outside.

I am basically completely honest with them. I would rather that, then them wonder why I am grouchy sometimes and crying others.

My kids gets plenty of ticks every summer (one day I picked 16 ticks of my youngest) and I have therefore been very straight forward to them explaining what is going on without scaring them. They know when bed time comes in the summer we check them very thourough for ticks, it has almost become a "fun" bed time ritual. My deepest consern is that I am so scared same thing that happened to me will happen to my kids and I am trying to not show this even if it is hard. I think it is all about finding the right balance for each one of us.