Today I read the guest post on Six Until Me and thought about how it applied to my life as the mom of a child with diabetes (CWD).  1st - let me say it is a wonderful post and if you haven't read it yet - Stop! Go. Read. It. The guest blogger is Amy Free a lifestyle/editorial photographer and a Type 1 diabetic.

I have read a lot about teens and adults needing to take a break from their diabetes. I have even read that some doctors encourage it for a short time.  Diabetes is a hard disease that requires a lot of work with little reward.  I guess the reward would be good health and a good A1c but most people without diabetes don't have to work as hard for those things.  As a mom of a CWD, a baby really (ok, ok - I know he's almost 2 but he's still my baby) there is no break, no vacation, no day off from diabetes.  It is my job every. single. day. to keep my son alive.  Although I am happy to do my job because let's face it the alternative is something that I cannot even think about it - - - it is still exhausting.

We are only 7 months into our journey with diabetes and it seems like it has been a lifetime. I have met so many great parents along the way that have lifted me up and offered support but I think about these parents that have been doing the D dance for a year, 2 years, 5 years and even 10 years.  How have they survived without a break?  I'm 7 months in and feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and still very sad about Nate's diagnosis.  Don't get me wrong - - - things have gotten SO much easier and SO much better but it is still feels like I am treading water.  I guess that is better than the drowning feeling that I was feeling 7 months ago!!


Here is a portion of the last paragraph from Amy's post -


I love that!   It's great the way that people going through similar experiences think so much the same way.  This IS part of my life.  I cannot take a break or ignore it but I am accepting it and working on becoming okay with it.  I'm not quite there but I am working on it.