January 20, 2009

Why YDMV?

I am having a little winter writers slump.

A lot of things play into it but the bottom line is I am just not feeling the muse. It happened last year at about the same time of year. Maybe there is a seasonal YDMV disorder. YDMV suffers from too much holiday activity and too little motivation to write in December and January.

Part of the problem is trying to come to terms with what I want YDMV to be and to write from that voice. I struggle with the reality that there are lots of outstanding people writing about diabetes. Does the world really need more blogs? Amy, Bernard, TuDiabetes, CWD, a couple of Scotts, Kerri and other are all great.

I want my not-so-little-anymore girl to grow up to be Kerri. Not literally, obviously, but with all the zany joie de vivre that happens around her life with type 1.

You see while I live near type 1, I don't live in it. Diabetes is and will always be a concern but some day it is moving out of the house. Everyday I try to work towards it moving out but being independently managed, if not mastered, as part of a bigger life.

It isn’t mine.

I’m a parent of kids with type 1. That, I think, is a far different thing than being type 1. I need reminding of that regularly. That is what YDMV does for me. So that is YDMV’s voice. I will try to get it back.

As a parent I hope for a cure. I don’t expect it is coming fast. I will try to stay up with the news of work towards cures because it helps to fuel that hope and I'll share some of what I see and I'll laugh at all the cured mice stories. Happy mice.

As a parent I need to guide, coach and lead. Yet none of those have any meaning without trust and space. Diabetes is just one of many things along the way I need to give space on.

I think on the mind game side of things one of the worst possible things diabetes can do is give parents one more reason not to let their kids grow up. I can’t let type 1 diabetes be an excuse for not letting the kids grow into their own zany joie de vivre.

4 comments :

  1. Bennet,
    Don't you dream to stop writing, please! We need more voices like yours to question the status quo when thins are wrong.

    THAT is your voice, my friend and we love it!

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  2. Zany joie de vivre is only truly enjoyable when you get to make it yourself. As a PWD, and a recent arrival in the world of adulthood, I'm really glad to hear that your priority is to aim for your kids' good management on their own. I've picked up on this theme in your writing and, as a point of departure from many parenting-type 1 blogs, I appreciate it. Even those of us who are (nominal) adults have significant others in our lives who need to find a role in our management, and here they can find a great role model. Supportive, encouraging, nudging where needed, and perpetually finding humor and joie de vivre in the happy mice: all the necessary parts with little of the overwhelming straightjacket of anxiety. Keep up the good work.

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  3. Bennet - I too find your posts to be very enjoyable, and hope that you just follow wherever the path takes you.

    The beautiful thing about blogging is that it is whatever you feel it should be for that post. You don't need to decide on a direction, or voice for the blog - just post whatever it is you are experiencing at the time!

    For me, my blogging is my main outlet. It keeps me (relatively) sane being able to shout my stuff from the rooftops. Whether or not people listen or not, and comment, etc. Heck, that's all just frosting on the cake.

    I think it also sets a great example for your family, and as they grow up they can maybe be better equipped to feel comfortable voicing their emotions in a safe and healthy way.

    Blogging should never, ever, be another thing to stress out over. Just write what you feel when you feel it.

    Just my $0.02...

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  4. Please keep it up, I am 44 hrs old and just had to go on a pump, I was type 2 for five years and now type 1. Your site has given me a great deal of hope and humor lately. I may not be a kid anymore or have a type 1 kid but it still put a scare and a shock through my system. There are plenty of other sites ....but not like yours

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