As my daughter gets older I hear more and more from people that "She is JUST like you!" Most parents would beam at that line, right? I want to say, "You take that back!" It makes my heart almost literally skip a beat and I get a funny feeling in the bottom of my stomach. There's that small bit of fear that floats to the top from time to time that one of my children will have this disease. I know, this seems irrational. I know that our appearances do not mean she will have the same diseased and dysfunctional pancreas as I do. And it probably didn't hit me until now as to why I feel a brief moment of panic when I hear my children say, "Mama, I'm not feeling well." Hmmm...
You are not alone mother4peace...I have the same fear for my daughter. I was diagnosed at the age of 27 and my daughter is almost 24. I've talked to her several times about recognizing the symptoms. Over the years, I would get so concerned every time she got a glass of water. I also worry about any children that she may one day have... I just don't want them to have to go through this.
Thank you smileandnod. This means a lot.
It can be frustrating...Lord knows I worry about my children developing diabetes (I like to think I was a fluke, not one on a long lineage of T1D's), but consider it for what it's worth.
People are paying you a compliment when they say that. Accept it as such. And if you feel like D has to play a role in that, well, it just means that they are strong like you, and if - God forbid - they also contract D, they'll be able to handle it. But if they don't, they still have the strength and confidence that's they've developed from watching how you live with diabetes.
@Judith-family history is nerve wrecking. I have a family riddled with this disease both T1 and T2. I always say I got the winning lottery ticket! LOL Hopefully none of our children or grandchildren will have to suffer through this.
@Scott-thanks for reminding me that I should be looking for the positives in this. I know that people mean it as a compliment, but inside I just pray she isn't like me. But I should look at it the way you stated it. I hope that I can be a role model in that capacity if that is the hand she is given. 2011 was an incredibly tough year and have been sick for the better part of a month and a half. Hard to see the silver lining sometimes. Thanks again for the reminders.