Posted by Marina on December 05, 1997 at 11:37:11:
In Reply to: Re: Profit motive? posted by MAR on December 04, 1997 at 23:52:05:
MAR,
You are absolutely right. I recently discovered that some sleeping problems experienced by my son were at least in part related to the fact that he feared that one day he would be all alone with D with all the burden on his shoulders.
I told him that his father and I would NEVER expect him to do everything on his own and that we would ALWAYS be there for him and help him with whatever he needed. Right now it takes three of us to manage his numbers, 4 if you count his very caring and conscientious home room teacher at school. To expect so much from a young child is outrageous.
We recently spoke to a therapist who confirmed basically what I already knew. She told me that even well into their teens, children need parental guidance and help with diabetes management. She said that too many parents want to put all responsibility on the child at too early an age and by the time they reach adulthood, they're "burnt out". She said that by college age they're ready to be self-sufficient and even then, they should have friends/room-mates around who can help them.
Having D can be a very isolating experience. It pains me to think that my son, at age 7, has already, to some extent, already experienced some feelings of isolation.
I tell anyone who will listen about D and I tell my son that he has absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. If there's any shame, it's in the fact that after all these years, there is still no cure. Time is precious, let's not waste it...
Marina