Yes and No: Diabetes Blog Week Day 3

Today's Diabetes Blog Week prompt is to write about something that you could improve or do better concerning diabetes.

I'd have to say that I need to get better at saying YES.  And at saying NO.

I need to learn how to say YES when someone asks if there is anything they can do to help. 

I am horrible at accepting help. 

My immediate response is to answer "Oh, No.  That's ok.  I've got this."

And I really do mostly have it under control.  But having a little help from other sure would make life a little easier. 

I feel guilty accepting help. 

I always feel like I'm putting the other person out, that there are many people more needy than I, that it's my responsibility, that I don't want to burden any one else....

I hate asking for help. I just won't. 

And I really struggle with asking people to do things to accommodate my T1 child. 

I hate having to say, "Can you just take a look at Dex every now and then and see what she is?"  or "She needs to go to the clinic 10 minutes before lunch to get her bg tested and get insulin."  I do it - because it's a matter of safety for my child.  But it makes me uncomfortable.

I read an article not too long ago about parents of special needs children.  And how the best thing someone can do is to NOT ASK what they can do... but just do.  Because we so often will say we are fine and we have it all together --- when we really do not! 

I know I have to remind myself that people LIKE to help out.  And saying YES actually makes them feel good!  So I need to do that more often.

I also need to work on saying NO.

I overextend.  I do too much.  I'm a perfectionist.  I get involved in way too much.  I have too much going on.  I never slow down. 

Truth be told - I should have said NO to D Blog Week!  Because it's the end of the school year and there are a million things going on that need my attention.  And now Sweets is sick and throwing up and has ketones and I have no sick days left and on and on and on.

I LIKE to do.  I LIKE to help.  I LIKE to be a part of things.

But I have totally burned myself out. 

I've taken a step back from having a leadership role in our local JDRF chapter.  I'm still a board member - but I'm not really in charge of anything anymore.  It KILLED me to say NO.  But I had to.  I need time for me and my family apart from diabetes.

That's the same reason I have not been blogging as much.  Sometimes I just have to let it go until tomorrow instead of staying up all night to get stuff done.

I'm cutting myself some slack here.  My world DID get totally turned upside down and I'm finally working on creating some much needed balance there.  It's time.  I'm doing it.  It just takes a while to figure out the perfect balance. 

And part of that is saying NO. 

It fits doesn't it?  The perfect polar opposites.  I need to say YES and I need to say NO.  At the same time.

Sounds about right when you're talking diabetes!