Parenting has its challenges and surprises under the best of circumstances, but when a parent has Parkinson’s disease, it can put added stresses on the family, both for the parents and the children. As parents’ abilities and roles change, children need to come to understand the disease, how it may change their routines, and the potential need to take on additional responsibilities. Today we kick off our first of two episodes in our Holiday Series: Families and Parkinson’s, as we interview Social worker Elaine Book of the Pacific Parkinson’s Research Center and the University of British Columbia Movement Disorders Clinic in Vancouver, BC, a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence. Elaine shares how she helps families cope with PD by discussing some of the new challenges and demands, what changes may occur in the family, and those things that remain the same. She says there may even be some benefits to the family members when they cope well that would not otherwise accrue under other circumstances.