When exactly do you tell a child about his or her epilepsy and everything that comes along with it? Granted he knows when he’s not feeling well, but as a young child, can he understand what it is that’s making him sick?

It’s one of my favorite evenings…the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan’s Flame of Hope Awards. My family and I attended the event on Thursday evening, and as I expected, it was just as moving and inspirational as I expected it to be.

Still, with weekly, and most of the time daily seizures…it’s pretty special when you can lose yourself in something, with someone, and for the moment you don’t have to think about ‘the E word’.

We speak so often about our battles…those of us who live with Epilepsy. How often do we stop to realize the challenges our caregivers face?

It’s back to school time…When it comes to sending your child with Epilepsy to school, you shouldn’t feel alone. There are many resources that can help.

As for my child, I pride myself on the fact that she has just as normal a life as her friends and classmates, and I work very hard at this. Does her mother have seizures? Yes, but she is cognizant of that and she knows how to react. I surround myself with people who understand and care, from my husband to my very, very close friends. So, I never worry that she is deprived of love and attention.

Epilepsy is one of those illnesses that sort of has tentacles. If you are suffering, you tend to bring others down with you, whether it’s with their concern or their care; but, only the ones who deeply care and want to, or already do understand the condition.

We never conceal my Epilepsy from our daughter. As she grows, I haven’t been quiet about the fact that other parents are not in agreement with this approach. But, as I’ve said, it’s the way we have chosen to tackle parenting when one parent lives with a chronic disease.

I had the most amazing experience Tuesday. It was something I had on my ‘to-do’ list for some time now. I visited Camp Discovery, the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan’s 5 day-4 night summer camp for kids with Epilepsy.

I was told that one of my daughter’s friends will not be able to come over to our house for a play date because of my ‘situation’ as it was termed. The mother does not want to expose her child to ‘anything scary’, i.e. a seizure.