Diabetic Recipes
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I promise you, I don't go looking for bloggable moments from Charlie. I don't follow him around the house like the Verizon Wireless guy, asking, "How do feel about diabetes now? How do you feel about diabetes now? How do you feel about diabetes now?"
Take last night, for instance. I was minding my own business as I dried him off after his shower and we walked into his room, when he hits me with ,
"Dad, do you ever wish you had diabetes?"
"Well ,," I said, stalling while thinking how best to respond.
"Well, sometimes I do because I don't want you to feel alone."
"Oh," Charlie said with a thin smile. "I thought you were going to say 'no.'"
"Why?"
"You know, because of the site changes and because it hurts." His tone and hand gestures suggested there was a litany of reasons for not wanting diabetes.
"Does it make you feel alone?"
Charlie shook his head, yes.
"You know, Charlie, there are lots of kids just like you with dia ,"
Charlie cut me off.
"I know, but I still feel alone."
"Well, would you ever want to talk to a little boy or girl with diabetes or maybe email?"
"I dunno. They don't even know me," he said, shrugging his shoulders. "We would have to be friends first," he said, making it very clear that a shared disease doesn't automatically spawn or necessitate a friendship.
"Hey dad?"
"Yeah, Charlie."
"What's this?"
He pointed to the thing that he had been pulling, cupping, stretching, juggling, flicking, cradling, inspecting and smooshing the entire time we had our little conversation.
"Oh those?"
"Those are your testicles."
LOL... Re: the last piece. My nephew has a fascination with those too... I suppose that doesn't necessitate a friendship either... But it makes you all male. :D
Re: Feeling alone. Diabetes is like that. It doesn't matter how many people you know who have it - you always have this feeling of being on your own. I suppose maybe it has to do with how individual it is. My diabetes isn't exactly like someone else's and I know it... And my struggles with it are all my own - no matter how much support I have... I hate that Charlie realizes that when he's still so small. Gr.
LMAO. Boys are sooo easily distracted....
Well, Brendon is emailpals with a boy from Australia who has diabetes, and I'm sure he'd be happy to start up a friendship with Charlie if Charlie is ever inclined.
You know Riley is always available to be a pal if Charlie ever changes his mind.
I'm sure they'd find out really quickly that they have much more in common than just diabetes.
For example they both like Star Wars. And they both like their testicles.
This post made me kind of sad. It wasn't that long ago that Riley came to me telling me he didn't like diabetes because it makes him different. As a parent what do you do with that?
I was trying to figure out how the picture fit with the post. That is, until I got to the end. Then I got it.
Boys!
Thanks yous guys.
Ah, boys. You gotta love 'em.
Dude - that was the funniest ending I think I've ever read! And it caught me so off guard! I very much agree with Nicole P. We are all so different in how we deal with our diabetes that you are, for the most part, always on your own with it. It is very isolating, which is frustrating sometimes. That being said, I do think it helps to have people to talk with and communicate with, when he's ready for that. He'll let you know I'm sure.
Hilarious! And meaningful, too. But I'll bet he'd enjoy making a friend or two who "gets it."
All the best,
AmyT
As a newly diagnosed type 2, I intend to see a nutritionist but figure someone might know the answer to these questions: My doctor put me on a 1500-1600 cal diet and exercise. (1) does that mean I disregard counting carbs and suger? (2) what do I do when it's 7pm and I realize I've only eaten 700 calories?
As a newly diagnosed type 2, I intend to see a nutritionist but figure someone might know the answer to these questions: My doctor put me on a 1500-1600 cal diet and exercise. (1) does that mean I disregard counting carbs and suger? (2) what do I do when it's 7pm and I realize I've only eaten 700 calories?
LOL - as the mother of a 4 yr old, I totally get how you can have a somewhat serious conversation whilst your boy is "pulling, cupping, stretching, juggling, flicking, cradling, inspecting and smooshing" them!
I feel for you...Halle was diagnosed 1 yr ago-the day after her 1st birthday. As a family we are doing well adjusting but it is a daily battle. I am not looking forward to the day that Halle has the same conversation with me...without the testicle part of course. If I could trade places with her I would do it in an instant just so she doesn't have to be poked and constantly watch the food she puts in her mouth...the same feeling I am sure is true for you. I live in a very small town...we even have to travel 2-4 hours for Halle's appointments with her endo. I wish we had a support group here for families with T1, but we don't and unless I do it, I don't see if happening. I have found some families who liver nearby who I try to keep in contact with and hopefully when Halle gets a little older can talk to these kids with diabetes so she can have the "friendship" that Charlie is looking for. Right know Halle is 2 and we know 4 other familes with T1 kids. Ages range from 4, 7, 8 and 18...2 live 30 mintues away & 2 live 1 hr away. I hope that you can also find something like that for Charlie or see if you have a JDRF or ADA support group near you so he can interact with other T1 kids. Good luck.
I would like to reccomend a Children with Diabetes "Friends for Life" conference, if you've never been to one. It is the one place in the world where you won't feel alone! Hundreds of kids of all ages, with diabetes, cheking their blood sugar, swimming, playing, just being kids, and making friends, all while living with diabetes. It is an amazing thing to experience. Plus it gives the moms and dads a chance to not be alone too. and the information you gain there is so worthwhile. We have been going since my daughter was diagnosed, almost 5 years ago. Check it out at www.childrenwithdiabetes.com. It would be a great experience for the whole family!
Has anybody experienced discrimination for having diabetes? I've shared some thoughts about the reality of ongoing diabetes discrimination on "Allies Voice". Please checkout my latest video on YouTube "Love Diabetes: Curing diabetes discrimination". Share your ideas on how we can combat the stifling issue of diabetes discrimination. Thank you!