In the Trenches: Diabetes Dad
It’s hard to imagine that one can change without knowing we have actually changed. Or as it says in the song: that we have crossed a bridge that we did not know we crossed until we were already on the other side. Recently I’ve learned that I have indeed crossed to the ‘other’ side.
I’m known to place things in compartments. Not always neat and tidy, but done. There are many balls to juggle in my life, and I don’t share many things that are personal to both my family and me. Rest assured, we have our share, as you do. But I also choose to keep things on a positive course. To realize how things will impact us at a particular place in time as we are experiencing them and how much energy they deserve has been perfected to a science in my life.
I’m sure I’ve become this way because of my dealings with diabetes in my children’s lives. We’ve had a series of occurrences in our life recently of selling, closing, buying another house, and moving 800 miles; closing on both four days apart. The particulars are not important except to say that if anything could go wrong on either deal (truthfully sharing that it had little to do with our actions); it indeed went south.
Years ago I would have reacted completely differently than I did over the last week. You see, when dealing with a child living with diabetes (and even with two kids, as we do), you are trained to be ready to ‘deal with the situation(s), as they arrive.’ A problem needs to be solved and getting upset does little to solve the problem. The problem of highs, lows, tantrums while driving, playing, traveling, attending social events; is that they all needed immediate attention.
Compartments.
The problem arises; solve, move on…until the next one arises; as they surely will. As each item came up with the bank, the lawyers, the sellers, whatever it was. Solve and move on.
When you’re knee-deep in a problem (or problems), you do not understand the toll it takes on you while ‘in it’ because before you can take a breath, you are solving another. But when it’s over, you surely realize you have been to hell and back. Looking back each time, we surprise ourselves with how calm we stay while in the ‘midst of the battle.’
We become experts. As I stated, I’m 1000% sure diabetes taught me all of this, and it all came into play recently in a different situation–in life–reminding me of words in a song; appropriately from a musical that described the last ten days: Wicked.
I am a diabetes dad.
