We associate childhood with safety. With a carefree world of play, protected by adults, where nothing bad can happen. Sometimes, however, everyday life and the sense of security begin to waver alarmingly. This is particularly the case when things go wrong in the family. This is when questions are raised by children that adults are unable or afraid to answer. Well, how do you tell the truth...? And is it even necessary to...? And how to do it without it hurting...? There comes a point, however, when the questions posed by the children force, as it were, the need to learn to talk to them, to prepare the children and oneself for illness, suffering and life after the passing of a loved one. Contact with chronically ill patients teaches a truth that no one needs to be convinced of: that the diagnosis of a chronic illness and the possibility of death are always a surprise, at every moment of a person's life. They are like the outbreak of war, when the whole hitherto existing world comes to a head. The book is not an antidote to the pain and suffering experienced by children. Nor is it a book with golden, always effective methods. It is, however, a confident proposal on how to take care of children in such a difficult situation for them.
The guide is aimed at families facing chronic illness and death, who are confronted with the difficult need to talk to their children about illness and possible death. It can also be useful for those who work with children on a daily basis and who have had or are having contact with illness and suffering in their environment: educators, teachers and educators, nurses and doctors, clergy, psychologists and others who seek such knowledge.