Warm-Weather Tips |For Parents With Chronic Conditions (NAPSA)—School breaks are a LifeLines have online, phone and local programs that can help you great opportunity for parents and children to spend time together. But for parents with a chronic condition such as multiple sclero- identify ways to have fun and stay active with your family during any season. “I love to go fishing with my sons, but having MS affects my coordination, making it harder to sis (MS), managing their own health and well-being while kids are home from school can be a daunting task. MS affects get on and off my fishing boat,” approximately 400,000 Americans, andit’s likely that manyof these individuals are parents. Fortunately, there are a number of resources available to help navigate the summer months. Karen D. and Chuck L., who are parents and also have Karen D., MS LifeLines Ambas- sador and active mother of three who hasrelapsing multiple sclerosis, enjoys time with her family. and stay cool in the shade. Ambassadors and are part of the MS LifeLines support network Try to schedule activities for cooler times of day, such as after 4:00 p.m., when the heat won't be as much of an issue. “The heat can hit people living with MS and their walks with my family after dinner relapsing MS, are MS LifeLines and educational community for caregivers. MS LifeLines andits Ambassadors are sponsored by EMDSerono andPfizer Inc. Karen and Chuck offer these tips that could help other parents with a chronic condition such as MS: Keep Cool If heat exacerbates your MS symptoms, enjoy fun activities with your children where you can stay cool. For instance: Go to the movies for enter- tainment and air-conditioning. Take advantage of discounted day trips to local aquariums and museums—checkthe local news- paperfor savings. Host a pool or backyard party with your friends who havechil- dren. Each parent can take a shift watching the children while the other parents can have a break mehard. I love to garden and go for when the temperature cools down,” says Karen. “Living with MS hasn't hindered what I’m able to do with mychildren, just changedit a bit.” Teamwork Remember that it’s okay to accept help from others. Here’s howto doit: elf you're having an “off” day, ask friends if your children can spend a few hours at their house so that you can relax. Taking a nap can help you replenish your strength so that you feel alert and in control for the rest of the day. eIf you have older children, allow them to help you in day-to- day situations such as preparing dinner or sweeping the front steps if it’s warm out. Take Advantageof Support Services Support programs such as MS says Chuck. “By participating in the MS LifeLines’ local educational programs, I learned to not let my MS be a boundary but rather to find ways to alter my activities to make them work for me.” Take Care of “Me”First Try not to get down on yourself if you simply don’t feel up to join- ing in the fun on some days. For instance, if you wake up and aren't feeling your best, don’t feel as though you need to conquer the world that day. Instead, enjoy a fun day indoors with your children. Try making popcorn and shutting off the lights to simulate your own movie theatre and have a movie marathon. Learn More You can find more ideas for living well with MS byvisiting www.mslifelines.com/summer or by calling (877) 447-3243. For Chuck, MS LifeLines proved to be an invaluable resource when he was first diagnosed with relapsing MS, and continues to be today. “I enjoy going to the local events and picking up advice from others who are involved in the program. Thelit- tle tips that I’ve picked up along the way are what have helped me deal with my MS,”he says.
