Margaret O
09-30-2007, 06:56 PM
I am just sad today...and worried about our son. Maybe because we did the Walk for JDRF this morning and he wasn't here to walk with us because he is now in college. He's been there for one month today.
As parents we try so hard to keep our children from making mistakes, skining their knees, and getting hurt. As parents of children with diabetes we also know that making mistakes will happen, but their health is at risk more than scratching the car up or spilling milk all over the floor. Now that our son has left for college it is sooo hard to think about him making mistakes with his diabetes.
Pat is our first child, so admittedly we (I) hovered over him more than our other children since he was born. When he was diagnosed with diabetes, our family learned as much as we could about how to help him take care of himself.
As he got older, I nagged (probably too much) but he tested more when I did. I knew, for the most part that he was on a pretty regular schedule and always paid attention to his diabetes more because of his schedule. I could ask him whether he tested or covered the food he was eating. I could wake him in the morning to test to make sure he wasn't low and then let him sleep til noon if he wanted to. (he's a night owl).
I know he has to learn, I know he has to go through this time when he is on his own... eating like a college freshman without someone asking what his numbers are, realizing he has been to the bathroom way too many times in the middle of the night and checking to see if his pump failed, always having something with him in case he goes low...
Man, this growing up is hard...letting go...
Maybe it is really hard for him and he isn't sharing with us, or maybe he is glad to finally be able to do this on his own and prove to us, but more importantly himself, that he can take care of himself. I know he has to.
Sorry for the rambling, but I find it so crazy that you are with a child for 18 years, last 4 of which he has had diabetes, and all of a sudden he's not around every day...he doesn't call every day and I am just feeling sad and I miss him and I want him to be okay. :(
As parents we try so hard to keep our children from making mistakes, skining their knees, and getting hurt. As parents of children with diabetes we also know that making mistakes will happen, but their health is at risk more than scratching the car up or spilling milk all over the floor. Now that our son has left for college it is sooo hard to think about him making mistakes with his diabetes.
Pat is our first child, so admittedly we (I) hovered over him more than our other children since he was born. When he was diagnosed with diabetes, our family learned as much as we could about how to help him take care of himself.
As he got older, I nagged (probably too much) but he tested more when I did. I knew, for the most part that he was on a pretty regular schedule and always paid attention to his diabetes more because of his schedule. I could ask him whether he tested or covered the food he was eating. I could wake him in the morning to test to make sure he wasn't low and then let him sleep til noon if he wanted to. (he's a night owl).
I know he has to learn, I know he has to go through this time when he is on his own... eating like a college freshman without someone asking what his numbers are, realizing he has been to the bathroom way too many times in the middle of the night and checking to see if his pump failed, always having something with him in case he goes low...
Man, this growing up is hard...letting go...
Maybe it is really hard for him and he isn't sharing with us, or maybe he is glad to finally be able to do this on his own and prove to us, but more importantly himself, that he can take care of himself. I know he has to.
Sorry for the rambling, but I find it so crazy that you are with a child for 18 years, last 4 of which he has had diabetes, and all of a sudden he's not around every day...he doesn't call every day and I am just feeling sad and I miss him and I want him to be okay. :(