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Dear Tammy:    You sit down with your family and explain that rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease that affects the joints and causes fatigue. Tell them that there are certain things that you wil no longer be able to do.(For instance: carrying children around or up and down the stairs, doing some household chores, walking long distances.) You may have to make changes in your schedule. Only you know what they are depending on which joints are involved and if you are in a flare up or have chronic pain. Explain to them that you may need help (depending of the extent of your disease). For instance making a big family dinner you will need help. I learned the hard way by not explaining in the beginning and was critized for not doing things fast enough. Also tell them that fatigue is part of this disease and you will need to rest for a certain part of the day.      Rheumatoid Arthritis is not a fun disease and the problem is that in the beginning you may look perfectly normal and no one will realize you have it and expect more from you than you are able to give.   Good Luck,   Galen Gilchrist