Your parents have a big role in helping you with your bleeding disorder, but they aren’t the only ones you can turn to for support and love. There may be times when a parent can’t be around or when you want to spend time with some fresh faces. Other family members, as well as friends or people you know well, can also help you—or simply be there when you want someone to talk to, play with or just hang out.
Here’s how to make the most of the time you spend together:
Grandparents
Grandparents may live nearby or far away, but they are important to both you and your parents. Your grandparent may be the perfect person to spend time with on days you have to take it a little easy. There are lots of things you can do together—play cards, bake treats or draw pictures. Ask your grandparent to tell you a story or teach you a game from when he or she was a kid. Sharing in these memories can make you feel special, too.
Siblings
No one understands your parents like your brother or sister! Who else gets those inside jokes or laughs with you when your mom and dad do something silly? It’s possible your siblings feel a little left out when you get more attention because of your bleeding disorder, so it can be important to show them they’re loved and needed. Whether your brother or sister is older or younger, there are plenty of ways to have fun together. Find a game to play, such as a scavenger hunt around the house or backyard. Act out a funny skit, sing a song or make up a dance and have a talent show for the whole family to enjoy.
Friends
It can be hard for friends to understand what it means to have a bleeding disorder, but that doesn’t mean they don’t care. If your friends ask about your bleeding disorder, you can decide how little or how much you want to share with them. If you do feel comfortable telling a friend about your bleeding disorder, you may explain that it means you have to take special medicine because your blood doesn’t act like his or hers does. But you can still find plenty of ways to play together, inside and outdoors, and you probably won’t even think about your bleeding disorder when you are together.