Talking with your daughter about her incontinence may not be a conversation she is comfortable with, nor a conversation that you are keen to have, but it is necessary. Managing this condition is only going to become more difficult for her, so the more support you can give her the better off she will be.
Here are a few key tips that may help you when discussing your daughter’s incontinence with her.
Be Patient Don’t let stress from work or the home come into this conversation. If you become irritated with your daughter, you may limit how openly she is willing to talk about this sensitive and potentially embarrassing issue in her life. If you think your partner would be better suited to having this conversation with her, then by all means, let him or her. This is not a popularity competition, so doing what makes your daughter feel the most comfortable and secure about the issue should take priority.
Don’t Lead the Conversation towards Diapers Though adult diapers and other incontinence products will help both of you, bringing them up every time you and your child talk is never a good idea. In fact, if you’re discussing incontinence for the first time, the goal and content of your conversation should be about informing your child about the prevalence of the problem and to persuade them into going to the doctor with you for a medical evaluation.
Read as Much as You Can about Incontinence There is a vast amount of literature online and offline about incontinence. Read as much as you can on the topic so that you can provide the answers your daughter is looking for. If you get stumped at any point, be truthful and admit that you don’t know about it but are willing to research it with her.
Be Sympathetic Most parents, especially dads, can appear a little less caring while discussing this issue since they believe that sympathy is for the weak. However, you need to keep in mind that your daughter is opening up to you because they trust you and want your help. If you aren’t the least bit sympathetic to their situation, they may close up and refuse to discuss their condition. So, show sympathy throughout the conversation, avoid making any kind of jokes, and be careful of your choice of words around your daughter.
If you daughter gets confrontational, avoid a fight with her, as she needs you in this time of need. Be sympathetic, empathetic and well-informed to help her manage her incontinence.
Here are a few key tips that may help you when discussing your daughter’s incontinence with her.
Be Patient Don’t let stress from work or the home come into this conversation. If you become irritated with your daughter, you may limit how openly she is willing to talk about this sensitive and potentially embarrassing issue in her life. If you think your partner would be better suited to having this conversation with her, then by all means, let him or her. This is not a popularity competition, so doing what makes your daughter feel the most comfortable and secure about the issue should take priority.
Don’t Lead the Conversation towards Diapers Though adult diapers and other incontinence products will help both of you, bringing them up every time you and your child talk is never a good idea. In fact, if you’re discussing incontinence for the first time, the goal and content of your conversation should be about informing your child about the prevalence of the problem and to persuade them into going to the doctor with you for a medical evaluation.
Read as Much as You Can about Incontinence There is a vast amount of literature online and offline about incontinence. Read as much as you can on the topic so that you can provide the answers your daughter is looking for. If you get stumped at any point, be truthful and admit that you don’t know about it but are willing to research it with her.
Be Sympathetic Most parents, especially dads, can appear a little less caring while discussing this issue since they believe that sympathy is for the weak. However, you need to keep in mind that your daughter is opening up to you because they trust you and want your help. If you aren’t the least bit sympathetic to their situation, they may close up and refuse to discuss their condition. So, show sympathy throughout the conversation, avoid making any kind of jokes, and be careful of your choice of words around your daughter.
If you daughter gets confrontational, avoid a fight with her, as she needs you in this time of need. Be sympathetic, empathetic and well-informed to help her manage her incontinence.
