Happy Mother's Day

I'd like to wish all the MOM's out there a very happy Mother's Day!

And to those of you who are D Mamas.... I have a very special wish for you!

I read this poem on the Parenting Diabetic Kids blog and I just had to share it...

A Mother's Promise by Gary Hempleman

She walks down the hallway in silence so deep,
Keep watch over him, as her little one sleeps.
With meter in hand, she opens his door,
Making sure not to wake him as she crosses the floor,
She sits on his bedside and brushes his hair,
As he dreams of shooting baskets, without a "D" care.
She holds his hand softly; his fingers so small,
As she watches and wonders why "D" came to call.
While she watches him sleeping, so peaceful and warm,
The forces inside him fight a constant "D" storm.
Will he ever be free of shots and blood testing?
She sits and she wonders as she watches him resting.
The beep of the meter breaks the silence of the night;
A small drop of blood tells if everything's right.
The seconds count down to the final display,
I hate this damn meter; i want to throw it away.
The number is fine, one down, a lifetime to go,
As he turns in his sleep, will he ever know?
Why does this "D" happen to someone so small?
My son is my hero, but my baby most of all.
She turns at his doorway, looking back one more time,
It's a nightly routine of the very worst kind.
She walks down the hallway and time passes by,
As she sits in dark silence and quietly cries.
I have to stay strong, and for him i will fight,
We'll battle this "D" with all of our might.
I'll teach him to master and conquer this foe,
This "D" will not stop him, I promised him so.
Gary 2001


 To all my D Mamas...

Being a Mother is hard.  Being a Mother to a child with diabetes is... Wow.

I can't say that it's harder because I don't know what it's like to be a Mother of a child without diabetes.  Well... I did.  For 3 years.  Regardless... it's a tough, demanding job.

I salute you all.

Whether you choose to use a pump or multiple daily injections...
Whether you log numbers or not...
Whether you support JDRF, DRI, Dr. Faustman, or something else...
Whether you check your child 10+ times a day or "only" 4...
Whether you check overnight or not...
Whether you count carbs or do carb factors...

We all love our children more than anything in the world.  We do what we do for them.  To give them the best possible chance at a long, healthy, happy life.  We all do what we think is right.

We are all heroes.  We are all warriors.

I thank you.... because you do what you do not just for your child... but for mine, as well.

I also really LOVED Cara's blog post over at Every Day Every Hour Every Minute - a letter to her Mom.  And not just because she mentioned me!  No - it's her letter to her mother that brings tears to my eyes. While we don't do what we do, as D Mamas, for a "thank you" - it's still nice to hear it!   I only hope that Sweetpea will one day grow into the strong, brave woman that Cara is! 

Wishing you all a very happy Mother's Day!

I will leave you with a beautiful video made by Tracy, Mom of the Diabetes Dude!

Click HERE to see it!
(pause the playlist first!)

To read last year's Mother's Day post, click HERE.  It includes the story "How God Selects the Mother of a Child with Diabetes" by Erma Bombeck.