Talking about illness to a child.

[EnglishGirlApproximately]

We have just discovered that my mother in law has a serious illness and the prognosis isn't good unfortunately. Does anyone have experience of talking about this with a nine year old?
DS is sensible and bright so will understand whats going on and what we tell him so if anyone can share their experience I'd really appreciate it. I want to reassure him that his grandma is getting treatment but absolutely don't want to say everything will be ok when it might not be. I also want him to know that its ok to be sad and worried but that we still need to carry on with normal life.

It's such an awful thing to have to tell them isn't it? I think you have most of the main points covered really.

For me I can remember sitting with DF in the middle of the night and googling how to tell the DC when I got home. I read something like this, which was helpful.

I can't actually remember what I said, but I can remember them being upset and having cuddles and me encouraging them to ask me any questions that they had which they did do a few times.

So sorry that you're going through this

@DominicRaabsTravelAgent sorry I've only just come back to this its been a busy week. Thanks for sharing your experience. I thought he was doing OK but he's cried his eyes out going i to school today
I'll have a good read of that link thank you. Sorry you've had this to deal with too

I thought he was doing OK but he's cried his eyes out going i to school today

So awful isn't it. The Hospice lent us some age appropriate books which also helped a little.