Parenting with arthritis can be difficult, but support makes it easier.

If you're living with arthritis and are also raising children, you face a certain set of challenges. The fatigue, arthritis pains and other symptoms you experience may seem like they interfere with being the type of parent you would like to be. Arthritis symptoms could also make it harder to do things like go to your children's after-school activities or pack lunches every day. There's also a lot of potential for burnout between your career, condition and role as a parent. Though parenting with arthritis may seem hard, help is available to you. In this article, we'll talk about how to find it.

Ask for help

The easiest way to get help is to ask for it - which is much harder than it sounds for most people. Even asking your child's other parent to take care of school drop-off and pick-up chores when you're having a flare-up could seem daunting. Remember that you and your partner or co-parent are both working for the wellbeing of your children, which means he or she will likely be happy to help pick up the loose ends you may not always be able to handle.

You may also be able to ask for help from other people in your life. If you have extended family nearby, perhaps they'd be happy to take the kids for a night or two when you're feeling particularly under the weather - which can also be a great way to keep your children entertained and engaged while you're in bed or resting. The same could hold true for parents of your children's friends - and you'll never know until you ask.

Seek support from parents in similar situations

Support can be tangible - like taking the kids for a day or pitching in more on household chores - but it can also be more emotional. Receiving emotional support is essential as you navigate being a parent with a chronic illness. Try to find a support group for parents who are living with chronic conditions like arthritis. There may not be one near your home that meets in person, but the Internet offers forums and discussion groups for almost anything you can imagine, including the discussions you find right here on Arthritis Connect. Being able to air your fears and frustrations to people who are in the same situation and will definitely understand can take a huge weight off your mind. You can also trade tips about how you're confronting the challenges you share.

Explain your limitations

The fact that you have arthritis and the details of your condition are your information and yours alone. You are never obligated to disclose it when you're not comfortable doing so. However, you should consider talking to people in your children's lives, such as childcare providers, teachers and parents of friends, about what you can and cannot take on. It will be easier to say no to an invitation to bring baked goods to the next parent-teacher meeting when you've already said you do not have the resources to contribute in this way.

For more on parenting with arthritis:

Parenting With Arthritis
How to Talk to Kids about Arthritis
Helping Children to Cope with a Parent’s Chronic Illness