Years ago I started say one simple phrase: Kids First, Diabetes Second.
It reminded me of the priority that I wanted our family to take. It was short, simple and sweet. It also stuck.
Teachers used it, our friends gently reminded me to use it and most of all, our kids grew up knowing that they were not just 'diabetics', but people that happened to live with Type 1 Diabetes.
A simple but very powerful idea.
As we move into a new era of tweens and teens, I have consciously added to our beloved mantra. While the above is still critical to our success as a family, we also have to broaden our minds to help empower our children.
"You lead Type 1 Diabetes, Type 1 Diabetes does not lead you."
Still short, simple and sweet but an idea that also resonates with our girls. They are in charge of this life and how they choose to handle it, will help them become leaders, despite Type 1 Diabetes.
I know they think about that too. Often, we will have conversations where they feel victorious over a management decision. It may be a simple choice, like remembering to pre-bolus before eating an unplanned snack or a determined decision such as changing the battery on their insulin pump before it alarmed the entire classroom.
Regardless, they are sending a determined message.
Type 1 Diabetes, YOU are NOT the boss.
I like it! What a great mantra for life. I've been a fan for the past number of years on the whole notion of we get to define ourselves, and decide how we want diabetes to be in our lives.
ReplyDeleteThis notion of the person is a sum of their attributes, not defined by one of them is so important. How nice it is that we seldom hear reference to "diabetics" and much more fequently to a person with diabetes PWD.
ReplyDeletethanks to you Amy, that has been the Mantra in our house too. I received so much strength and knowledge in the first few months from reading your blog from start to finish; from following you on facebook and private messages!
ReplyDeleteThanks for showing me that being a kid comes first.
Great post!
ReplyDeleteI love these saying, they really get to the root of what we all need to keep in mind!
ReplyDeleteThe best comment day ever! I wish I could hug each and every one of you for all of the kind things that you just wrote to me. This is the greatest community that no one wants to belong to :)
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