A Big Deal?

This Diabetes thing is a really big deal. 

Please don't make a really big deal about it.

These sentences are from a post I wrote about meeting with the nurse and teachers before my child started fourth grade.  These words were an attempt to sum up what I was trying to impress upon the school staff about having my child in their classrooms.  

I wanted them to be worried enough that they'd keep an eye on her.  I wanted to make sure they wouldn't let her forget her emergency bag for fire drills.  I wanted to be alerted when there was a change in schedule or a class party.  I wanted diabetes to be in the back of their minds always, just like it's in the back of my mind at all times.

Yet at the same time I wanted her to be just like every other kid in that classroom.  I wanted her diabetes to be as invisible as possible.  I wanted her to participate in every aspect of school life just like the other kids.  I wanted her to go through her day without being constantly asked if she was o.k. or given any special attention.

Ditto for the rest of her life.  This quote pretty much sums up our household's diabetes philosophy.

This Diabetes thing is a really big deal. 

Please don't make a really big deal about it.

We do our fair share of worrying. We are prepared with all of the supplies and information we need to keep my child healthy.  We remain aware of what her blood sugar numbers are, and how the next activity might change them.  When she's easily flustered, or lethargic, or absurdly giddy we ask her to check her blood sugar to determine whether she's low, high, or simply 13. When there's a diabetes issue we stop and take care of it. But all of this stuff remains, as much as possible, in the background of an otherwise full and normal life.

She goes to school and does her homework.  She sings, acts and plays two instruments.  She participates in sports.  She stops to buy a snack with her friends on the way home from school. She hikes and swims and kayaks.  She goes to friends' houses, birthday parties and sleepovers.  She eats out and travels.

It would be easy to let anxiety about all of the what-ifs of this disease slow us down.  It would be easy to say no to so many of these things.  

But we'd rather not make a really big deal of it.

Today's Diabetes Blog Week topic asks us to share a favorite sentence or post we've written, or to share why we started the blog in the first place.  Find the rest of these posts HERE!