In tears at school!

[kel4han]

The nurse just called me to let me know that Maddison was in tears at her desk......today is the 2nd day of school. They checked her and she was 63, just 1.5 hours after school started! We had those 2 site failures just days apart Thursday and Friday. HI's on the meter and Ketones. SHe is hating her pump, she makes that clear every day since. Thats problem #1. Then there is the fact that she is repeating 1st grade. She was diagnosed 4months into school last year. I think she is feeling bad about being in 1st grade again, seeing her friends come to lunch after her, and not getting to be apart of their day anymore. She has 2 friends in 1st grade that are our neighbors, she played with them yesterday at recess. I feel so horrible! I think it is a big part of bad timing with the pump, and her not having any friends in her class yet. I think she is starting to feel different becuase of the pump. The nurse sent her to the school counselor when she gets her sugars up this morning, so I called her quick to let her know of our hardships lately. Talk about a moms heart breaking. Its hard enough to start 1st grade, but to be repeating it.....and the pump and Diabetes is a whole 'nother issue!uhhhhhhhhhhh. Mom needs to cry to someone.

[momofphoenix]

I am so sorry to hear about Maddison, Phoenix had to repeat Kindergarden and had the same problems minus the pump (we are still doing injections)

{{{{{HUGS**********

When she gets home give her a huge hug and tell her how much you love her.... You made me cry for you and Maddison... :(
I kinda lied to Phoenix about doing K again, I told him he was so smart that they wanted to have him help teach the other kids (he is so shy I knew he would tell the other kids they were stupid or something like that) it worked like a charm, after that he was happy at school and enjoyed making new friends... I hope tomorrow go's much much better....

Good luck

[Mama Belle]

Oh Kelly, I am so sorry. That just breaks my heart for both of you. :( You have had a rough time of it lately and I feel for you and Maddison sooo much! Have a good cry and give Maddison big hugs!

[OSUMom]

Awww... my heart is breaking for Maddison and you mom. :(

Hugs from Ohio. :cwds::cwds:

[3js]

that is heartbreaking! ((big hugs)) to both of you. there is just nothing worse than seeing your child in pain. vent away. i would be terribly upset too!:(

[zimbie45]

Kel
I am so sorry... that is heart breaking... If you want i can bring charlize over after school or for a playday this weekend,.. That way madison can be with a fellow 1st grader, and pumper too... I wish they went to the same school !:(... If there is anything we can do to help.. anything at all dont hesitate to ask.. Also i knwo the last thing you want to do is to go back to shots, but maybe that would be a good idea for now till she can get thru her feelings about school? Does she like stuffed animals? Have you ordered pumpernickle yet? ( diabetic pumping monkey) he is cute.. maybe this will help?

Chandra

[Abby-Dabby-Doo]

Oh Kel, my heart breaks for you and Maddison. I hope some of the emotions coming out was due to the low. I think tonight calls for a trip to some kind of ice cream shop, just girl time, a double scoop, and talk.
Let her know what a wonderful STRONG young lady she is. It's a lot to handle at such a young age, and she's human. We all cry (even me as I type this).
I'm going to suggest the Sure T's infusion sets to you. It's not a cure all, but you positivity WON'T get kinks. It's totally comparable to an injection with a syringe. Call MM and have them send you a couple samples. It's worth a try before Maddison gives up too much on the pump.
I'll be thinking about you! Good luck.

[Abby-Dabby-Doo]

We went from this (pulling my hair out) kinked sites
http://quick.holdthatpic.com/images/119208.jpg (http://www.holdthatpic.com/)

To this (Sure T compared to a syringe and lancet)
http://quick.holdthatpic.com/images/119209.jpg (http://www.holdthatpic.com/)

[Ellen]

http://www.cuddlecards.com/ccimages/brown_sugar_baby_hugs-1.gif

Hang in there mom. You are doing the right thing with having her repeat first grade. You know that repeating first grade means the years to follow she'll be on target with the rest of her class rather than struggling along to catch up. Soon enough she'll establish new friendships...she's just too young to recognize it today. Try to speak quietly with the teacher to let the teacher know some of the struggles too. The teacher can do things to make Maddison feel really appreciated and an important part of the class etc.

Let her vent when she comes home. Let her express what she needs to say. If there's an incentive she would embrace in order to continue with the the pump for just a month, you may want to try that. Alternatively, if she hates the pump now, you may want to consider going back to shots and trying the pump another time - perhaps over winter break.

Glad you can vent here with people who truly feel your heartache today.

[Tori's Mom]

My heart breaks for both of you. How emotional. Nothing tears us up like our kids being sad or unhappy with us having no way to "fix" it.

[Momof4gr8kids]

You've received some really good advise already. I just wanted to say how sorry I am that you guys are having such a hard time right now. (((hugs)))
Jamie

[Heather(CA)]

Kelly, I'm really sorry Maddison is having a hard time...I hope you both feel a lot better very soon. Are yu planning on going to her class to do a "Talk" about diabetes? I have found that when I do that for Seth, the kids really rally around him in suport. Seth was d'xd in first grade also, and the kids were wonderful:cwds: Hang in there, things will get better before you know it. Until then...((((BIG HUGS)))) I'm just curious, what month was Maddiosn born in?

[Kaylee's Mommy]

Oh, I'm sorry she's having a rough time today.. sounds like she needs some mommy time when she gets home..and I believe someone mentioned a trip to the icecream shop:) that'll surely make anyone's day a little better..

I know you guys have had a rough start of the pump.. it WILL get better.. she's such a trooper for sticking with it (you too!!)

big fluffy hugs!

[WendyFL]

Just offering great big hugs!!

[kel4han]

Well Maddison talked with the school counselor. Or, at least she answered her questions. Maddison has never been one to express her real feelings, she doesn't open up much, never has. :( They covered all the issues I was worried about. Makes me feel better, but when Maddison got home, she was happy as could be. She says that she was crying becuase she missed me. :confused: I never know with this girl. I never feel like she is honest about her feelings. Maybe that is the truth, It is hard to go back to school after a nice summer of mom and dad all day. :rolleyes: She isnt a morning person, maybe missing her comfy bed made her upset too, who knows. And here I was jumping to all conclusions that it was a "D" thing. -SIGH-

[deafmack]

Oh I am so sorry, Give Maddison and yourself a ton of big (((HUGS))) today. It can be so hard for kids. Sending a ton of hugs your way.

[kel4han]

Oh man. I thought my heart was already broken to pieces! Maddison came home, happy as can be. Silly all day-until bedtime-

Out of nowhere, she burst into a sobbing cry that I have never heard from her little lungs. She cried, and cried and cried, for nearly an hour as we talked about things. I guess now this is all about her being without her friends from last year, she doesn't want to repeat 1st grade, and is lonely and scared with no friends in her class. Now it is my time to cry. I am really scared for the morning, becuase I know she is in serious heartache. How do you tell a 6yr old to be strong, and it will all be okay, when you know they are just so hurt inside? Any input from someone that has had a child repeat a grade would be much appreciated right about now.

[Adinsmom]

(((Hugs)))

I taught first grade. It is such an important grade. I had 3 kids held back from the previous year when I was a student teacher. I learned so much from them. As a parent I wouldn't hesitate to hold my child back at 1st grade. It truly is such a learning and adjusting grade. The kids I had the pleasure of teaching that were held back were the brightest and most amazing kids. Not only smart. But caring and confidant. I swear to this day if I met them, I would bet they are at the top of their class grade wise and peer wise. It was tough for them at first. But within a month they were superstars. Their confidence grew as the year progressed. I can honestly say I was honored to teach them.

On a parental note: I have a quite unassuming girl that is hard to read sometimes. She is so sensitive and caring but at times she hides her feeling from us. I try to let her know that she can vent to me no matter what and just be. What is the saying???"I guess I will go eat worms." I try to create and be a safe place for her as I am sure you do as well. Sometime no matter what being a parent is just Hard.

Best Wishes.

[momofphoenix]

I had to hold my son back in Kindergarden, it was really tough at first, (the only upside is we moved to a new duty station so he didnt have friends at all when school started) he relized that he wasn't in the same grade as his friends back home and that he already did this school work last year, about a month into school he was the "top" of the class and helping the other kids with their class work so he was the class helper, he really enjoyed being able to help the teacher out by helping his friends. I know it is hard to watch your child cry and be hurt and not understand why they arnt with their friends but unfortunantly it is for her own good.

Have you explained why she needs to do first grade again? If so how did you explain it to her?

I lied to Phoenix a little I told him he was so smart and his teacher needed a student to be a helper in the class, it worked really well for him. He did better (maybe it was doing the grade over not real sure) his reading skill went up and so did his math skills, he is delayed quite a bit (behind about a year) but in kindergarden he was right on track the second time around.

I hope Maddison has a better day today. Still sending Hugs your way

[kel4han]

I explained to Maddison that with her diagnosis she struggled alot to even feel good enough to learn and hear what the teacher was teaching. I explained that she missed so many days due to hospitalization, illness and just feeling bad. I made sure she knows that becuase she chose to visit the nurse so many times a day, that interupted what she should have been learning with the class. It was so hard last year, becuase she was learning what she was feeling after diagnosis. She needed to go to the nurse, to validate her feelings. Its alot for a 6yr old to have to handle in caring for your own body! But, at the same time, I know she want even ready for 1st grade, she should have repeated Kindergarten, but I was an idiot and listened to the teachers that assured me she would be fine. So, she was bored in class, lost, and wanted to go to the nurse to get out of class in the end of the year, even after she knew better how she was feeling as far as lows and Highs. I hope to god that she doesnt visit the nurse 6times a day just to get out of class! She is a very smart girl.She knows WHY she is repeating 1st grade, she just feels left behind, and lonely in a new class with no familiar faces. Its so hard right now.

[Mama Belle]

It sounds like there is a lot going on for Maddison right now. I am sure time will help some of it. I think some of it also may be due to her age and some of the stuff kids her age go through emotionally. When my daughter was in second grade she came home from school crying almost every day. I even went out and bought a book about 7 year olds (I know Maddison is still 6, I am guessing she'll be 7 soon?) to try to better understand what was going on in her psyche. Turns out 7 is a very tumultuous age for kids emotionally. They go through a lot of identity issues and there is a huge shift in the way they view themselves within their world. They start to focus more on what their friends think and their parents don't play as much of a role in how they see themselves. So if your child is having issues with friends (like Maddison is and like Samantha did) it makes it very difficult, because as a parent you can't really even console them because your input isn't of paramount importance like it used to be. We can't kiss it and make it better anymore. At 7 they also internalize more and tend to take things very personally.

Diabetes further exacerbates the situation because in many cases it acts as a means of separating our kids from their peers.

I hate to say this Kel, but I had to hold my breath and pray that she made it through the age okay. And sure enough, she did. Ages 8 and 9 are awesome by the way! A welcome break after 7.

Hang in there, and if you want I can send you that book. PM me if you are interested.