Thursday, October 06, 2005

I look at Josh, and I see a child like any other 5yr old. Loves to play at the park, likes throwing a baseball with his dad, reading, and just doing what kids his age do. And when he needs a snack and as independent as he is helps himself to it. He's aware he needs to let me know what he's eating, but I think sometimes that I'm hungry, and Mom's busy, I'll just help myself, and think nothing more of it, but then I am reminding him of why he needs to tell me or come to me and I'll help him with his snack, I can't help but think, OK he knows how to test his blood, it's never to early to start adding Carbs with him and put the connection together....That's what tears my heart, today his teacher had mentioned that since he spent time in the nurses office today during class, he didn't get to do something like the other children and telling him that Maybe tomorrow he would get to do it, which doesn't seem fair to me. She doesn't seem to understand still how important it is to test his BS, and that if that comment made me feel like she was making him different than the other children, what would be his prespective???It just really hits me that, that's not what I'm trying to teach him....Anyways, I'm at a loss for words right now, so until tomorrow.

2 comments:

Sandra Miller said...

Oh Christine,

I know. I know. The thought of someone sending that message to our children -- that this damnable disease will in any way limit them -- is painful beyond words.

Joseph was 8, almost 9 at diagnosis. While he still had to test his bg in the nurse's office that first year, this year we've been able to get the school to allow him to test in the classroom-- that way he doesn't have to miss anything. It's hard, trying to get the school to support you in this. They're concerned about sharps in the classroom, about liability, about blood.

It's crazy. Your son needs to test to manage his disease. But he also needs to participate fully in class. To know that diabetes is only a small part of who he is.

If you want to talk about ways to try to get more support from your school, please email me at anytime.

You're already doing wonderful things for your son-- helping him learn to take care of himself, and sending him the message that diabetes doesn't have to define or limit him.

Stay Strong,

Sandra

Unknown said...

Thanks Sandy! I have parent teacher confrences next week, and I'm thinking of giving her some pamplet or information. His teacher seems really disconcearned that I'm making rather a big deal about the whole thing about going to the nurses, and when I try to explain things to her she just seems uninterested. You're right, I don't want him to feel limited. I want him to not only be comfortable that this disorder is manageable, and that although he is different that's what makes him unique, not because he's diabetic, but because he is Josh.Thanks again Sandy!