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a 1st for Alex!

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B

bev

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Parent of person with diabetes
Hi all,

After school today we were talking with a lovely family we know quite well - they have 7 children ranging from 17 down to 3. Alex was playing with the 3 year old when all of a sudden the little one said to Alex ' why have you got diabetes'?.It was one of those moments when you could have heard a pin drop! Everyone stopped still and stared at Alex - it was like in slow motion - i was just about to say something to detract from it when Alex said ' well i have wiggly worms up my jumper (putting his hand up his t shirt) and they wriggle so much they take all my sugar'! The little one thought that was great and giggled.
I am so pleased that Alex found a way to answer for himself and make it into an age appropriate joke! Nobody has ever mentioned it in company before so i was a little worried - but now feel very happy that Alex wasnt at all phased by it!:DBev
 
hi bev that was a really clever answer from alex and like you say it was in a way the child could understand , nice to see alex taking abit of independance and thinking about how he can explain it to others.Also now he has done it for the first time it will gear him up for the future as im sure other will ask as well it will give him new found confidence x
 
You've got a fine boy there bev - but you knew that already! Good onyer, Alex!:D

I often find that wiggly worms go wriggling up my jumper,
But with some luck they'll stay away when I'm an insulin pumper!:D
 
Excellent answer - aren't kids stars?

My partners youngest was convinced I had diabetes because I am Jewish - how I wish I knew how their minds worked!

:D
 
Hmm...well theres something wrong then - because Alex isnt Jewish - but the family we were talking to all are! Alex's best friend is called Kaleb! So perhaps there is a Jewish Link!:D😉 Bev
 
bev said:
Hmm...well theres something wrong then - because Alex isnt Jewish - but the family we were talking to all are! Alex's best friend is called Kaleb! So perhaps there is a Jewish Link!:D😉 Bev
Click to expand...

Hmmm but is Kaleb diabetic? And I'm sorry, I can't get a joke from any of this 😉
 
Kaleb isnt diabetic - so maybe Alex has stolen it from him - if your partners youngest's theory is to be believed!:D😉Bev
 
I doubt it, and she hasn't mentioned it for a year or two, guess she found someone else whose Jewish (won't be in Wiltshire!!) and asked them! 🙄
 
Well done Alex , he is a star !!!! what a clever answer :D:D I dont think I

would have thought of something so age appropriate , he's a gem and would

be perfect at explaining diabetes to younger children . 🙂🙂 Well done Alex !!
 
Bev - you must be so very proud of your son. I certainly found what your son said very moving.

I have read with interest over the last few days your posts, and replies, and may I add, you son is very, very lucky to have you on his side.

Although a huge range in ages, you remind me of my late mother, who, had I been diagnosed at an early age, would have done exactly all things you have been doing. You have laid down a foundation for Alex, which when he is older he will truly appreciate.

Hazel
 
What a brilliant answer Alex, I wish I had thought of it.
 
Well done Alex! Bev, you must be so proud! It shows what a good job you doing! 🙂
How old is Alex? My son is 12.
 
That is really clever, well done to Alex.

I remember taking my daughter out (she has mild cerebral Palsy) in a buggy when she was 7 or 8 and a girl asked her mummy why the big girl was in a buggy, the mummy told her to be quiet! We went up and Valnetina told her she had poorly legs, girl was happy, no embarassment.

Julie
 
Mand said:
Well done Alex! Bev, you must be so proud! It shows what a good job you doing! 🙂
How old is Alex? My son is 12.
Click to expand...

Thanks Mand, Alex was 11 in April. I must admit, i hadnt actually discussed with him how he would answer any questions - i really didnt want to put words into his mouth. I dont want him to feel that diabetes is secretive - and i dont want him to have a 'chip on his shoulder' about it or feel bitter in any way. I think the way he handled it was a million times better than anything i could have advised him to say! Children really do find things a lot easier than us adults dont they? He also has a cracking sense of humour - all my children do - i think it helps to get through stressful times in life! :D Bev
 
Proudspirit said:
That is really clever, well done to Alex.

I remember taking my daughter out (she has mild cerebral Palsy) in a buggy when she was 7 or 8 and a girl asked her mummy why the big girl was in a buggy, the mummy told her to be quiet! We went up and Valnetina told her she had poorly legs, girl was happy, no embarassment.

Julie
Click to expand...

Julie,
What a brilliant way to overcome a childs natural inquisitiveness! I think if we left our children to communicate the facts - then there would be less prejudice and therefore less anger and hurt in the world! Adults make it more complicated sometimes. And what a great example to set your daughter for any future questions!:D Bev
 
bev said:
Julie,
What a brilliant way to overcome a childs natural inquisitiveness! I think if we left our children to communicate the facts - then there would be less prejudice and therefore less anger and hurt in the world! Adults make it more complicated sometimes. And what a great example to set your daughter for any future questions!:D Bev
Click to expand...

Agree completely. We haven't had to deal with any young child questions yet, but I don't think E would be remotely fazed, like Alex. I can imagine though that the pump will bring on questions more quickly, as it's obvious some of the time. (btw, though, there is a 'cool gadget' factor to it which seems to bridge most gaps...!).

We have a nephew (E's cousin) with complex needs (including t1 diabetes), who's always been in a wheelchair. From the start, anytime one of the cousins (there are six younger than this one) asked why he was in a wheelchair, mum (my sister in law) always responded with 'his legs just aren't strong like yours are' -- after which there was usually a wheelchair race around the garden. Children accept what's given them, I think, when given with no fuss or 'eggshell' type talk. I have since heard my own children explain to their friends the situation in the same matter of fact language...
 
Patricia,
I couldnt agree more with your sister in law! Brilliant! My aunt had downs syndrome - we all grew up with her and treated her as if she were one of our sisters - my nan was an older mum. So i think we had good grounding for dealing with potentially tricky situations. When she was born my nan was told to put her into a home and forget about her! But, my nan wasnt the sort of person who you messed with and told the doctors exactly what she thought of their idea!
We all grew up alongside our aunt and treated her exactly the same as us and if she was naughty then she got dissiplined along with the rest of us. So she grew into the sweetest natured person i have ever had the honour to meet - with the best sense of humour ever! Everybody loved her - not because she had downs - because she was a lovely happy person who taught us so much about empathy and understanding. Sadly she died 5 years ago aged 52 and we still talk fondly of her - she shaped all our lives for the better and my nan was right when she told the doctors exctly were they could put their advice!:D Bev
 
Well done to Alex thats a quick thinking answer and I shall memorise it for myself if you dont mind? I have lots of youngsters in our family who will be asking sooner or later.

Bev well done to you as well for giving your son a chance to answer for himself. Its so easy to quickly slip in there and speak for others sometimes it becomes automatic.


My Dad has type 2 and has had for many years but he has loads of complications over past few years so its been a hot topic in our family discussions so its no surprise to me to have learnt I have type 2 also. Trouble is I still dont understand it in relation to myself just in relation to him just can see what it could do to me and thats what makes it worse for me. So as I said my neice and nephew will soon be old enough to start being more curious and I will be ready with a wiggly worm explanation!

🙂
 
I think there are going to be lots of very confused children, if everyone connects worms with diabetes!
 
Well done to Alex, he seems to be handling everything so well, you must be very proud of him.
 
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