Part of making the changes to your life that come along with chronic illness is re-defining roles within your family. This is hard for any family, and even harder when some family members are resisting the change. Getting everyone on the same page can help, so I came up with this sample pledge you can make to each other. You can change or add to it to fit your circumstances.

• I pledge to try to keep our life as normal as possible while making the changes necessary to deal with my illness. Please help me make these changes and understand that while I need them, I don't want them.
• I pledge to be honest with you about my symptoms and how they limit me. Please understand that I'm not exaggerating my limitations and I wish I didn't have them.
• I pledge to allow you to resent my illness and to understand that you resent it and not me. Please understand that I have these resentments as well, and while I'll need to vent about them at times, these feelings are not directed at you nor do I expect you to "fix" my problems.
• I pledge to do all that I can to treat my illness and manage my symptoms, which includes rest and pacing myself. Please understand that these things help me stay functional and are not "laziness."

I'd love to hear what other pledges you think would help! Post your ideas here or in About.com's Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome forum.