In the Trenches: Diabetes Dad

Diabetes Training Wheels

As I traveled to work yesterday, I came upon a man who was teaching his child how to ride a bicycle. With his one hand, he grabbed the seat, and the bike leaned at an angle to the left as his son made his way down the street leaning heavily upon the training wheels. I’m sure within the next few weeks he will be enjoying his new rite-of-passage around the neighborhood, and the training wheels will be removed.

When our children are young, and they become diagnosed; clearly we, as parents, once again teach them the way to stay upright. We become their training wheels as they attempt to get it right. The reason that the man could teach his child is because, I’m sure, he too had to learn how to ride a bicycle. It’s difficult to teach something unless you’ve done it, right? Downright almost impossible. How can you teach something unless you know from experience?

By now you know where I am going with this I’m sure. What you have done since diagnosis is amazing. Not only did you teach your child, but you also had to teach yourself. And you had no one to lean on as heavily as your child needs you. You had to get yourself up to speed pretty quickly–and you did.

Now that I’ve been at this for over 22 years, I still wonder whether it will ever be done right. They surely know so much more than when we started. That’s our goal isn’t it?

Take a look back today and realize that your child is doing as well as they are because of you. Your knowledge, sweat, and tears have got them to the point where they are upright on their own, or will be soon. You did that! You were their training wheels for them to lean on as they learned and as it goes on a bicycle, there will always be new roads to explore.

I am a DiabetesDad.