July 28, 2009

Words make a difference.

Noah was lucky to receive a TON of mail from us and the rest of our family while he was at camp. He was eager to share it with us, and so as we helped him unpack I paused to read each one. A cute card in particular (from a very close family member) caught my eye and I read the short message of encouragement once...twice...a third time. I couldn't believe what I was reading, as my eyes repeatedly ran across the scrawl. Amid the uplifting message, one phrase had my maternal instinct rising up in a fireball of fury.

Quoting from card: "It must be nice to know you're not the only one with this problem."

Problem. Problem. Really?

Not having enough toll money is a problem. Being stuck on the elliptical machine next to overly sweaty guy is a problem. Lindsay Lohan's appeal and fame is a problem...

This very close family member has been consistently lacking in any desire to learn more about Type 1 from the start, (no matter how many times we explain to her that Noah is on no dietary restrictions, she always plays Food Cop with us) so I shouldn't be all that surprised or expect anything more than ignorance on her part, but this message was written to Noah from someone he's supposed to trust. He's 11. He has Type 1 diabetes, and will continue to have Type 1 Diabetes always. He knows this. He doesn't need negativity and to be told what he's got is a problem.

4 comments:

Bernard said...

Wow, it's amazing how stoopid people can be. I mean if they just asked questions we could fill them in some on living with diabetes.

If Noah's at camp does this mean we won't see you at the meetup on August 1st? I'm glad he's going to Joslin I've always heard great things about it.

Lea said...

He's home already- he absolutely loved camp. I had no idea there was a meetup scheduled! I'm afraid I'll have to miss it- I have to work. Are you all going to that great park like last time?
I hope the turnout is good- please tell everyone there "hi" from us!

Major Bedhead said...

Ugh. What a boneheaded comment. We have people like that in our family, too, and it makes me crazy. Or they'll do that *pat pat* on the arm thing and give me this pitying look and I just want to scream.

Khürt said...

Grrrr...... that's about as much as a respone I could muster without getting obscene. I don't like when loved ones start putting negative thoughts into my kids heads.