1 year mark, how to celebrate?

[sparkyjt]

Just curious how you guys celebrated your 1 year diagnosis anniversary for your child? Today is THE day and I'd like to do something but I don't want to make it a HUGE deal. We have 5 kids and I don't want them to always think everything is all about Reese, but I want to do a "family celebration" to signify that we've made it through a life changing year - all of us together! I want it to be special for her too though...

Thanks!
Julie

[kjksmom]

My son's anniversary was last month. We only have one child, but our theory may work for you also:

We gave him a gift (an Xbox game of our choosing) and treated him to dinner at his favorite family restaurant. We told him how proud we were of what he had done for the past year, and how well he had handled all of the changes in his life relating to the diabetes.

Although still have all the teenage headaches to deal with, and all the homework complaints, and the nagging to do chores, we appreciate how he has embraced this, and works with us as a team.

We all got a treat, he got a toy, and he told us that what we had said made him feel really good about himself.

[jules12]

Maybe you could have a special dinner or go out for a special treat - like ice cream. Then have a family night - dust off those board games and have everyone play - I know that is what my kids love the best - they are both electronic junkies but they never turn down a chance to play "0ld fashion" board games with the entire family!

[Mama2H]

I liked Jamie's idea of taking some books and toys up to the PICU where Hailey stayed. I think we will probably do this tommorow and stop at KFC (thanks to my craving after the KFC thread LOL) and KFC is a pita so it will be a special treat that the girls love. My sister works at the hospital and says the same nurses are working there so I want to express my gratitude for the awsome care they gave Hailey.

[thebestnest5]

Liv's one year was in May. We celebrated as a family that we support each other and we learned so much. When my kids Each of our kids got a little present.

[caspi]

Cam's one year was just last week (10/3) and we surprised him by picking him up at school and taking him to a "Chuck E Cheese" type of place that just opened near us. We proclaimed the day as "Cameron's Day" to celebrate how proud we are of him and how well he takes care of himself. ;)

[Mom2rh]

It's a bittersweet day. My dh didn't think we needed to mark the day but both Ryan and I did...so we went out to dinner. And just talked about how far we've come...

[shirley83006]

my daughter and i spent the day together. to show how proud we were of her courage and strength to have gone through a whole year. and she was able to make a small donation to JDRF. we got her a cake that she loves.

[momto2]

Ooh. It wouldn't have occurred to me to do anything. Especially since my daughter really doesn't like any fuss made over her about this. She used to get upset when I tried to be carb conscious in deciding what to make for dinner - she used to say "just make the dinner, let me worry about the carbs"

But, I have until May for her 1 year anniversary - perhaps by then, her response will be different.

[Nate'sMom]

How funny, my son's dx was 2 years ago tomorrow (We are going to the zoo) I think last year we just talked about how far we've come in the year, and how proud we are of him. Sometimes he doesn't like to talk about the time of the dx in the hospital etc. Sometimes he does. I am more emotional about it than him. I can get all teary just thinking about it. Whatever you do, enjoy the day. It will be a much better day than this time last year huh!!:)

[sparkyjt]

I postponed our celebration until today when my Mother in Law went home! :) Turns out that some Bella Sara cards I had ordered came in yesterday so I gave each kid 2 packs of cards for their little present and we're going to go out to eat tonight to a place of Reese's choice. I told them all I was proud of them for handling all the changes so well.
Thanks for all the suggestions. :)

[frizzyrazzy]

I told them all I was proud of them for handling all the changes so well.


FABULOUS reason to celebrate if I ever heard one! none of us like diabetes at all, but our kids do a remarkable job of handling it so well.

[Heather(CA)]

I liked Jamie's idea of taking some books and toys up to the PICU where Hailey stayed. I think we will probably do this tommorow and stop at KFC (thanks to my craving after the KFC thread LOL) and KFC is a pita so it will be a special treat that the girls love. My sister works at the hospital and says the same nurses are working there so I want to express my gratitude for the awsome care they gave Hailey.

Oops, sorry to be a bad influence LOL (evil grin);)

Hmmm, It was 4 1/2 years ago...I think we went to John't indredable pizza for food and games...

[MrsBadshoe]

Just curious how you guys celebrated your 1 year diagnosis anniversary for your child? Today is THE day and I'd like to do something but I don't want to make it a HUGE deal. We have 5 kids and I don't want them to always think everything is all about Reese, but I want to do a "family celebration" to signify that we've made it through a life changing year - all of us together! I want it to be special for her too though...

Thanks!
Julie

I have 2 type 1 kids and we have never "celebrated" either dx. It is part of our lives and we don't make an issue of it. I understand those families that see a need to signify the change but to us it wasn't part of something we felt was important enough to celebrate. It is what it is....

[OSUMom]

We didn't celebrate diabetes at one year. We celebrated life! :D

[3js]

I think we will go for dinner and maybe a toy. We celebrate end of school, start of school, report card day. Lol. I like the idea of celebrating handling the changes!

I have a long time to think about it. We are at 5 mos now.