I had the chance to speak to a new mom. Well she is not a new mom, but a new mom where diabetes has become the new normal. Let’s just call her ‘S’. ‘S’ asked me to call her because she had questions about her nine-year-old who was diagnosed only a few weeks ago. She may have called to ask whatever advice she thought I may share, and yet, it was she that taught me a very important….re-lesson.
I COULD HAVE ONLY WISHED I had the wisdom ‘S’ had when Kaitlyn was diagnosed over 22 years ago. She is wise beyond someone who is just so new at the entire situation. So new and she has learned the denominator that will keep her entire family going in the toughest times.
She asked me, “We tackle things as a family here. Everything. We have each other’s back and we do it with a good deal of humor. Humor only we would understand. Humor that I wonder if it is…….okay?”
Humor.
What a reminder. There are situations that are broken with humor/laughter that only the people involved need to get. One of the largest heroes in my life is my sister JoAnne. I have mentioned her before and I am not telling you this for any other reason but you understand. My sister has been severely attacked by MS. From her neck down is nonfunctioning. But her mind is as sharp as a razor. She loves to laugh and anytime I feel sorry for my self for any reason, I remember that I have never heard JoAnne complain…….ever….EVER….NOT ONCE.
Every time I see her, I say the same thing. I won’t share it because it is ours and will stay ours. But it makes us both smile. No one would understand, and we do not care whether they understand. It breaks my heart when I think of how she used her body in a gymnast manner growing up, the way she could bend or jump, and now her own body has become her enemy. BUT if JoAnne does not want anyone to feel sorry for her, humor helps us through it, I will abide by her wishes when I am around her. I wish you could all meet her…..you would love her like we do. She is electric, and she is the ‘go to’ person when it comes to movie trivia. She laughs like no one else.
So when “S” asked me if humor was okay, in the manner she handles diabetes; I say you go girl, and your entire family as well. Does “S” cry when she is alone, does her husband? Bet on it that they do, but to attack this disease by learning all you can and somehow find the humor, or to use humor so your kids can understand it better and accept it better…………………is such an amazing thing to learn so soon after diagnosis.
Have you found the use of laughter in daily struggles???—-PLEASE SHARE with all of us.
I am going to bet that “S” and her family will be just fine. It’s a good reminder for all of us. She taught me, again. “S” was MY hero yesterday. When was the last time you found something to laugh about? Is diabetes funny? Not in one iota. But using humor in how you handle some aspects of diabetes, as in anything in life, just may be something worth thinking about. Try it.
I am a diabetes dad.
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