General Disability Lifestyle

I just watched a video about a woman who lost all her limbs due to complications from kidney stones. 

 

Now Lisa Stone, a mother of two, has a caregiver come during the week to help her bathe, but her children help her with everyday tasks like getting dressed, preparing meals and cleaning the house. 

 

Check out the CNN video, Kids care for mom without arms, legs.

 

Lisa's 11-year-old daughter Chloe expresses that sometimes she doesn't want to help and gets tired of taking care of her mother.

 

What Do You Think?
Do you think having young children help a parent get dressed and do all the "normal adult activities" around the house is too much responsibility?  Or do you think that the caregiving role should go to children, because after all, they're a part of the household and should participate in lending a hand?  How much is too much responsibility?

 

hi ewilliams &thank you for this post. i saw 3 caring good people. the kids seem very intelegent & compassionate and if they have to help her until she can get more help, they might look back at their childhood and be happy that they had the chance to form a strong bond and a loving family. hopefully through the media she will be able to get a good job & the kids can have more free time. her sweet little girl is proud of her in public and wants her up front with her, and her adorable little son says "she's more like a special mom to me". what i got more out of the video was an example of a loving family instead of a disability piece :) lisa if you get to read these, great job hon, i wish you the best.

Debbie - that's an absolutely wonderful way of looking at this family's situation.  The dynamic between the mother and her children is something many people may not experience, but her amputations have put her in a unique position to be cared for, and what better "caretakers" than her children.  Although I feel these kids may be taking a bit too much for their ages (10 and 11), it's nice to see them protecting their mother proudly. 

I think it's a bad idea and that it's not fair to expect your kids to care for you!!!  I was in HS thinking it's not right for me to ask my six y/o brother to pour me juice. Yet, sometimes I did so-he was in the room annd I didn't want mom to always have to stop what she's doing! I thought if I had my own kids, they'd end up in the same role my brother was in but way worse-not fair, therefore I am not having kids. My brother at least knew mom and dad where there.  If there was a fire in the night, they'd make sure I'd get out!  My kids, my would be seven year old would feel so-if there's a fire, we need to get mom out. Not fair-every child deserves to know-If there's a fire or a bad guy, mom and/or dad will take care of us!

 

Don't have kids to serve your needs, whether it's housework or child rearing or personal care-not right!

I think 10 and 11 is too young to be expected to care for their mother. If they were 16, 17 maybe, I don't think it would be too much of an issue. It's great they seem willing, but I think over time the stress would add up and have a negative effect on the children.