Can I help my teenage son feel hopeful while living with a chronic illness?
My 16 year old son has a chronic health condition that causes a lot of fatigue and means he regularly misses school and social activities...
Ask Robyn
What you need to know:
- Robyn reads every question and replies to a selection each week.
- Robyn’s replies are public, never private, so others can read them.
- Robyn won’t publish any personal information from your message.
- If your answer is chosen, you’ll see it under one of the topics in the question and answer section.
Robyn does not answer all questions, if your question has not been responded to, this may be because a very similar question and answer has been posted already. Please scroll through the topics to search for a similar question and response.
The Ask Robyn service is for adults and parents. If you are a child or young person seeking information or help please go to www.childline.ie.
Latest Questions To Robyn
Where can we turn when our daughter discloses a sexual experience involving a family member?
My daughter recently told me that something sexual happened with an older cousin when they were both younger...
What can we do when frightening news makes our child feel unsafe?
My 12 year old daughter heard about a really disturbing murder case from friends at school and now she’s terrified at night...
Search Questions To Robyn
Can I help my teenage son feel hopeful while living with a chronic illness?
My 16 year old son has a chronic health condition that causes a lot of fatigue and means he regularly misses school and social activities...
Where can we turn when our daughter discloses a sexual experience involving a family member?
My daughter recently told me that something sexual happened with an older cousin when they were both younger...
What can we do when frightening news makes our child feel unsafe?
My 12 year old daughter heard about a really disturbing murder case from friends at school and now she’s terrified at night...
Why is our child finding it difficult to make friends after moving school?
We moved recently and my 13 year old has started at a new secondary school. They say everything is fine...
What should we do when we discover our teenager is self harming?
I recently found out that my 15 year old has been deliberately hurting themselves. They told me it isn’t serious because they don’t bleed...
How can we support our teenager as they explore their gender identity?
My 14 year old recently told me they’re not sure if they’re a girl anymore and they’ve started saying they hate their body, especially their chest...
When does helping a sibling become too much responsibility for a child?
My older daughter spends a lot of time looking after and supporting her younger brother emotionally. I'm concerned she's taking on too much responsibility...
Why does our son constantly compare himself to others?
My son constantly compares their appearance, achievements and lifestyle to others they know. His self-esteem seems to be suffering...
How can we help our child feel more confident when they are struggling with friendships?
My child says everyone in their class has a close friend group except them. They feel lonely and don't want to join school activities anymore...