Monday, June 27, 2011

Heavy conversations

The following took place one morning as Elise, Mattias and I ate breakfast.

Elise: Mattias, I want to talk to you about something. About my diabetes.

Mattias: Bleeg!

Elise: Mom, can I talk about my diabetes?

Me: Of course you can.

Elise: Why do I have to get insulin shots? (we've talked about this many times with her, but she likes to ask again from time to time)

Me: Because you have diabetes. A part in your body, called the pancreas is broken. The pancreas makes insulin, which we need to live. Since your pancreas doesn't make any insulin, we have to give it to you with shots.

Elise: Why did my pancreas break?

Me: (thinking in my head, oy... I'm not going over auto-immune attacks with a THREE year old) Well Elise... we just don't know why your pancreas broke. Doctors are trying to figure out why.

Elise: Does your pancreas work?

Me: Yes.

Elise: How about Mattias's?

Me: His works too.

Elise: Why did I have to get diabetes, Mom?

Me: You know what I think? Only the strongest, the bravest, and the most special kids have diabetes. Because God knows that you would be able to handle it. Other kids would run away screaming from a needle, but you just hop up in my lap and you don't even cry! You and all the other kids with diabetes are pretty amazing!

Elise: Sometimes I don't feel very brave.

Me: But you are. And I want you to always remember it, okay?

Elise: Okay.

And with that, question time was over. Pretty heavy stuff for a three year old.

***some of the content of this conversation has been edited; like when Mattias stuck his hand in his smoothie, or the squirrel who decided it would be fun to taunt our dog from the safety of his tree, causing Seven to go all sorts of berserk.

18 comments:

  1. I can't believe she is three. Are you sure she isn't 20?

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  2. These questions are so hard....especially at three! I'm always so glad when they end as suddenly as they began and Charlotte seems to be satisfied with what I've said :) You did great answering Elise!

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  3. Perfect explanation!
    Those conversations are hard but I think the more we make them 'ok' the better is it for them and for us! :)

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  4. Oh, she's such a sweetheart! Sometimes, the questions can really get to you. They really do handle things pretty well though, don't they?

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  5. I got basically the same question the other day..."why me and no one else in our family?" I told him because he was the bravest.

    love the end about the smoothie and the squirrel...you always find a way to make us laugh!

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  6. oh, we just had this conversation with Isaac...he said, "I don't want to be like Daddy anymore, how about I be more like you?" I thought at first he was talking about being a boy, but nope - he wanted to pull off his pump site and be done. I've tried to explain to him that he has a super strong immune system, that just got carried away - kind of like his older brother does sometimes! These conversations always kick my arse. I just wish we could change this for our kids, I know there are other things that they'll face that will be difficult in life, but damn this is one tough disease. Thanks for sharing this moment with us.

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  7. Gosh, I'm an adult and those are the same questions that go through my head.

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  8. wow I cannot believe she is just three either .Yep heavy conversation indeed .

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  9. She is deep...and yes, "BRAVE" ~ never forget that Elise. You are brave, strong, and courageous. There are times you may not feel so, but even in admiting that...you are all the more.

    Love you.

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  10. She is deep...and yes, "BRAVE" ~ never forget that Elise. You are brave, strong, and courageous. There are times you may not feel so, but even in admiting that...you are all the more.

    Love you.

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  11. She is deep...and yes, "BRAVE" ~ never forget that Elise. You are brave, strong, and courageous. There are times you may not feel so, but even in admiting that...you are all the more.

    Love you.

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  12. Elise is definitely an old soul..:o) I love how you explained it to her as well. Also, why is it that kids usually do their deepest thinking either early in the morning or at bed time? lol..I noticed that Emma comes up with some heavy stuff around those times too..lol!

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  13. Oh, I know those conversations are so tough. You did a great job with your answers. I find that those conversations kick my butt right after while she has moved on to the next topic of conversation. They really are the most brave and courageous kids!

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  14. So insightful, and thoughtful for her age, I love it. Your response was great.

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  15. You are such a smart momma! That's exactly what I tell Matthew. God is planning something big for our kids...making them into warriors. Even girls can be warriors. : )

    I want to get together in July!!! Okay? I'll even meet you at that Chick-Fil-A again. I don't care where.

    I'm going to put a note on my calendar to get back in touch with you next week and we can set a date!!

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  16. I know when people tell me I'm brave i never feel brave. sometimes i like hearing it sometimes i dont. To me sometimes it feels like a desperate want to survive. sometimes it feels like something that sets me apart, to make me know why things are the way the are. why people dont just lay down and give up. Because what kind of people would we be if we just gave up???

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  17. Oh sweet girl. Seriously three?!


    Love your response too. Its amazing how fast our kids grow up cause of this disease.

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  18. UGH! Those conversations are the WORST! Huge hugs to you!! xx

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