Chronic health issues and family systems

My ear has bothered me all day. Normally on days like this, I just hide somewhere quiet or tell my kids to be quiet. I feel bad because I feel like I'm pushing them away.

So, tonight, I called a family meeting and did my best to explain to my kids as concretely as possible what my disease means and why it is unpredictable. I emphasized that we need to figure out how to be a family WITH my disease, instead of me hiding from the noise. We agreed that it was my responsibility to communicate when I am having a bad day and what my needs are and to model the voice decibel that I needed. That way we could all still be together. I didn't have to be outcast, and they don't have to feel like I'm pushing them away.

So often I feel like they're just kids, I shouldn't expect them to be quiet, but I guess it's better for them to be quiet and be able to do things as a family than to be loud and have me hide.

We are learning as a family how to handle the chronic health issues and still be a family.