D blog week is the brain child of Karen of Bitter-Sweet. Last year was a huge success and so she's brought it back again with new, engaging topics! To find out more, sign up, or find the other bloggers involved, click HERE!
Today's topic is Admiring Our Differences. We are supposed to pick a blogger who is different from us and write about why they inspire us and why we admire them.
Like Karen, I have learned so much from my fellow bloggers.
I enjoy reading the blogs written by adults with Type 1. They give me a glimpse into what Sweetpea's future may be. A little preview of how she may deal with diabetes as an adult or how she may feel about it. I find these blogs to be addictive! I appreciate their honesty and openness so very much! It's quite a gift that they give us! And I am forever grateful for them!
I also love reading the blogs written by other parents of children living with diabetes.
I suppose that you might not think they are different from me. We are all parent bloggers.
However, I find that even though we are all parents of children with diabetes- that can be where our similarities end.
We have children of different ages.
We are at different stages in our journeys with diabetes.
We choose different ways to deliver insulin.
We feel differently about how often we should test our children.
We let go in different ways and at different times.
We choose different ways to educate our kids.
We have different opinions about sleeping through the night.
We put different things in our supply bags.
We choose different companies and brands.
We support different organizations.
We advocate differently.
We feel that diabetes affects us and our families in different ways.
By reading the blogs of those "like me", I have never been more aware of the fact that diabetes affects each person and each family in different ways.
Your Diabetes May Vary.
And - possibly most importantly - DIFFERENT IS OK!
Recently, I've been reading more and more blogs, comments, tweets, Facebook updates, and the like that well.... Aren't quite celebrating our differences. Not even close. Some of the things I've been reading have been rather judgmental, rude, and just plain mean!
This makes me so sad.
One of the best things about the DOC, to me, has always been the love and acceptance I've found here.
And that's what I hope that others will find here, too.
We don't have to agree on everything. We don't have to do things the same way.
It would be boring if we did!
I would love for us to treat each other with respect. I would love for us all to believe that we can agree to disagree. I would love for us to all keep on mind that we are all doing what we believe is right for ourselves and our families.
Passion is good. Passion is what keeps us going. It's what gets things done. We have passion!
I just hope that we keep in mind what the enemy is. The enemy is diabetes.
We're all on the same team. We all have the same goal.
I don't mean to be all "preachy". And I most certainly don't mean to come across like I know everything. Cuz I don't!!! There are days when it seems that everything I know wouldn't fill a thimble.
I just love this community! I've learned so much from so many! I've found people I consider to be my closest friends. I believe that our care and management is so much better than it would be if we were on our own.
And it's my wish that the DOC would continue to be that for everyone involved.
We are all special.
We are all important.
We are all unique.
Not let's sit in a circle and sing Kum by ya! Or not....
Awesome post! What a way to kick off the week. You nailed it. Im so grateful to have you a friend! You so get it. I appreciate and respect our differences. Xoxo
ReplyDeleteLight the campfire, I'll hunt down some sticks for the marshmallows.
ReplyDeleteSo blessed to walking this road with you :)
Agree. 100%. Good post about it.
ReplyDeleteI think a good question to ask ourselves before we post a comment on-line is "Will this be helpful or hurtful to anyone?" We all need to vent at times, but being mean or negative usually isn't helpful to anyone. Type 1 diabetes is challenging enough without stirring up disension among those we are relying on for support.
ReplyDeleteI'm a new follower to your blog but we have been fighting D for almost 6 years. In fact Nora's diaversary is 6/13. I love reading your blog! It reminds me that we are all learning along the way no matter how long we've been dealing with this disease. In fact, the days I think I've got it all figured out life throws us a curve ball! So long story short...I'll bring the matches to light the fire but my singing may be a little off key :) Thank you for sharing your up & downs with us!
ReplyDeleteI am a new follower but we have been fighting D for almost 6 years. In fact, Nora's diaversary is 6/13. I love reading your blog! It's nice to know that we are still learning the "tricks of the disease" no matter how long we've been battling D. The days I think we've got this whole D thing figured out...life throws us a curve ball! But then, welcome to the world of D! Basically, long story short, thank you for sharing your up's & down's with us! It's nice to know someone else "gets" it! I'll bring the matches for our bonfire but my singing may be off key! :)
ReplyDeleteYour Diabetes May Vary - best advice ever! And, yet, we are all in this together and absolutely shoudl support one another.
ReplyDeleteI'm singing with ya, Hallie!!!
I will Kum By Ya in a circle with you anytime :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome Hallie!!!!!
ReplyDelete:) Great post...way to tell it like it is...as always.
ReplyDeleteI am ready to hold hands and start singing now. You know how wonderful I am with my "vocal talents" :)
I might be dating myself here, but this reminds me of my 70s childhood: make love, not war!
ReplyDeleteI'll sing in a circle with ya all, but you'll probably ask me to hum...I'm a sucky singer!
ReplyDeleteI'm different!
And you are right, that is ok!
Love you!
Preach on, Hallie! Couldn't agree more. You rock. Thanks for the incredible passion and support and insight and everything that you bring to our online family. Wouldn't be the same without you.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! While we are all parents or caretakers of children with D, or adults with D, there the similarity ends. Metabolic disorder is the easiest way I have found to make others understand; everyone has a unique metabolism. There is a tendency to try to put D in a box, with statements such as "D is more challenging for children at the age of 2 or 3 (a statement I believe in)" but the pubertal/teen years are known to be a time when D is also extraordinarily difficult to control, and I am talking strictly in the physical sense, not emotional. To give parents the false information that it is okay to ease up on management then is entirely incorrect. Perhaps once they are grown, then D does become easier to manage; certainly do hope so. So, no judgment; no admonition or negative advice, just listen and keep an open mind. And never make the mistake of questioning your own judgment, your own observation. You and you alone should know how to care for your child. I think most parents do an awesome job taking care of their children and know best how to advocate for their own child, physically, emotionally and in every other way. And should respect the parent who manages differently, because they do so based on their own personal experience. We can walk together down this road, but no one can walk in your shoes.
ReplyDeleteSo true, Hallie, so true. You touched on exactly what I had in mind when I wrote this topic. I love the D-OC and I embrace and learn from our differences. Thank you for putting the true meaning of this topic in such eloquent words!!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post. Thank you for writing this and being a positive example.
ReplyDeleteHear, hear! :) You said it perfectly. This community is here for support and love. I've been so blessed to "meet" some wonderful people in this community and to always know I have people I can go to when I need some encouragement.
ReplyDeletep.s. I think it's easier for some people to be mean online because it's not "face to face." It gives them a kind of protection. :(
Hear, hear! :) You said it perfectly. This community is here for support and love. I've been so blessed to "meet" some wonderful people in this community and to always know I have people I can go to when I need some encouragement.
ReplyDeletep.s. I think it's easier for some people to be mean online because it's not "face to face." It gives them a kind of protection. :(
You totally nailed it. What a beautiful post and so true. We are all so different but it's the D that is bringing us together. We need each other. I love the DOC and want everyone to be happy and get along. Thank you for bringing everyone back.
ReplyDeleteI'm down with the circle singing but I'm with Meri - sucky singer = ME!
Hallie,
ReplyDeleteI love reading your blog, and while I'm not a D-mama, I have type 1 and I'm 24, soon to be 25. I am on a pump and cgm, and I LOVE pink, and I wrote about you and Sweetpea for our differences in the DOC post today, because we are a diverse community, and there are several differences between me and you and other D-Mamas, but at the core, we have many similarities too. I hope that you all continue to do well.
fabulous post - it is all so true.
ReplyDeleteI'll bring the smudgies for those who need a gluten free treat around the campfire - and I'll hum with Meri, trust me you'll all thank me!
I haven't seen any of these judgemental posts, and won't go looking. I loved this and can hold a note so count me in around that campfire. I'll make flapacks. Hey are great for such a time and I don't like marshmallows!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, by the way , for your post about your night from hell. I am intending to print it off and let my parents read it as they are still trying to refuse to take juice to the park with them when they try to take my boy out. I've banned them from taking him anywhere until they take it seriously. Your post should sort that out!