Why Am I Not On There Dad?

My plan for this morning was to sit down and blog about Christmas.  I planed to encourage everyone to be grateful for the time together with loved ones and not be overly concerned with "what you did or didn't receive" as a gift this year.  However, things don't always go as planned.

As I pulled this page up, Dylanne looks over my shoulder and says, "Why am I not on there, Dad?"

Heather jumps in and starts explaining to Dylanne that she doesn't want to be on this page.  It is a page about fighting diabetes and trying to find a cure.  It is a page that is written to encourage others to join in our fight and offer some insight on the diabetic life.  I also pitched in and let Dylanne know that she is often mentioned on the page for all of the great stuff that she does to help us find a cure for Micheala.

"Yeah, but Micheala is famous", Dylanne quickly states.

Oh boy.....

Often times I forget that I am dealing with a 9 and 7 year old in my house.  I don't take the time to think about how what I do or say will be viewed through their simplistic minds.  I make the mistake that what I am thinking and put out there, will be translated by them the same way that I intend other adults to translate.  This, funding a cure for diabetes, has become more tricky than I ever imagined.  Maybe I am the one thinking like a 9 or 7 year old.

The first step to answering Dylanne is letting her know that she should be grateful for her health and the fact that she doesn't have to deal with this disease.  But she does deal with this disease, not directly within herself, but as a big sister, she has to deal with diabetes.  Whether it be the mood swings from her sister or having to stop sledding early due to her sister's low blood sugars...she has to deal with it.  As most 9 year olds would, Dylanne pulls the "not fair" card when things like this come up.  You know what Dylanne, you're right, it's not fair.

Next, we have to put out any belief that we are doing this to make Micheala famous.  Explaining to Dylanne that a cure is not only for Micheala, but for the whole family is something that we have never really been able to get across to her.  In her mind, she sees this blog, posters and have heard me speak...all about Micheala.  I get that.  Explaining to Dylanne that we are just trying to put a face with this disease is not been an easy task.  I start to rethink the methods in which I choose to raise awareness, but know that I cannot alter too much or I cheat the public out of really knowing about type 1 diabetes.

Do I go a bit overboard?  I don't know if that is possible.  I ask all of you parents out there, "What would you do in my situation?"  I am trying to offer a better future for Micheala and Dylanne, which unfortunately means spending a lot of my focus on curing diabetes.

I love the fact that Dylanne asks questions like this because it means that she is aware of what we are doing.  Even if it means trying to answer her tough questions, she is witnessing what I hope gets translated in her mind as hard work and determination.

Dylanne will always be a part of my campaign for the cure, hopefully in the way that she is now and not as someone that needs a cure herself.  Her picture may not be all over the place, but she is very much a big reason on why we are doing what we do.