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Janice, My mother-in-law has Parkinsons and she is 71 years old. However, we are so close with them that my children, her grandchildren, have definitely been affected. I have a 7 year old boy and a 2 year old boy. My 7 year old Matthew prays every night for something to help his Grandma Dorothy. He can remember what she was like just a few years ago ans see the changges. We have had several talks about this PD that is hurting his Grandma. It has saddened him, but not hurt him as a person at all. He is very aware that his Grandma needs extra help and that when he is with her that he needs to help her out by picking things up and getting things for her. I have found that the affects from PD such as the shaking and tears are much less when she is with the grandchildren. I often leave them with her, and it does them all good. You might be surprised at how much a toddler knows (tho I doubt it after 4 kids :).) But my 2 year old Devon is very aware that he has to "help" Grandma. For example when her husband helps her to her feet he holds out his hand and tries also. He knows that he can be a little rough and charge Grandma Nita (my Mom), but that it he has to be gentle with Grandma Dorothy. We are close enough to Mickey's parents that when we moved to Las Vegas we moved as a group and when we moved to Billings Montana we moved as a group also. If we move again they will come with us. (it isn't us so much as the grandchildren). I know that you were looking more for a younger family with a parent with PD that had younger chldren - I just wanted you to know I had read your letter correctly. But I thought you might like to hear how my children are coping with it. I am sure that it would be even hsrder if it was me or Mickey that had PD rather than the grandmother, but they are very close to their grandma. Just thought that I would add my 2 bits. Laurie [log in to unmask] >I am trying to locate families where there is a parent with young onset >Parkinson's disease and young children (under the age of 10). > >My husband is 50 years old and was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease 3 years >ago. We have four children ages 21, 20, 4 and 1. We consider the two older >children to be adults and they have been fully able to understand and share >in the discussions about my husband. So far, our 1 year old is too young to >be too aware of the situation. However, our 4 year old daughter has had a >very difficult time dealing with my husband's illness. She doesn't >understand why it is her daddy who had to get this, why her daddy can't carry >her like he used to, why her daddy is so tired. She also firmly believes >that all the other boys in her daycare will get Parkinson's when they become >daddies. > > It would be very helpful to our family to be able to communicate with young >families who are coping with Parkinson's. It would be particularly great to >meet families near our area (Princeton, NJ). My 4 year old would benefit >greatly by meeting other children who have a father or mother with >Parkinson's disease. > >Sincerely, Janice Wherry > >