INSPIRING STORY OF THE WEEK – DON’T WORRY MOM by Cecile Bell
INSPIRING STORY OF THE WEEK
DON’T WORRY MOM
by Cecile Bell
This inspiring story offers a subtle word of advice to all well meaning parents.
When Cecile’s seven year old son, Adam first received his diagnosis of Juvenile Diabetes, she hovered over him frantically; “Did you remember to take your insulin?”, “Did you have a snack?” Although well meaning, her constant reminders were wearing a thin welcome. Adam uttered the words,”Don’t worry, Mom, I’m doing fine”, came in increasingly irritating tones.
Cecile cautioned his neighbors, friends and school personnel to watch him carefully for signal of distress. Meanwhile, she continued to hover and question. Clearly, her behavior was causing their mother/son relationship to deteriorate.
What to do next?
The first summer after his diagnosis Cecile dared to entrust Adam’s care to Camp Needlepoint, a juvenile diabetic program. They provided all campers with medical supervision and education in addition to a rigorous sports program. For the first time, mother and son no longer felt alone with this disease. During that week away, Cecile was not allowed to have contact with her child, but would be informed of any emergency. Although in some ways an uneasy week for her, it allowed her to rest her anxious habit and focus on Adam’s three younger siblings.
Adam’s Inspiring Story
Adam returned home with new confidence, not feeling so different from everyone else. But when he joined little league, his mom’s old habits returned. Like a mother hawk, she cheered on the sidelines, but stood with snack and juice in hand. She established a thumbs up thumbs down code so Adam could let her know how he was feeling. Although meant to be supportive, she could see that his irritation was growing.
Finally they attended the International Diabetes Center where a team approach treated Body, Mind and Spirit of both both mother and son. This little boy, who was filled with unexpressed anger, would finally be allowed some space to own HIS disease.
With professional guidance and sensitive support, Cecile learned how to step back, let Adam own his disease and watch from the sidelines as Adam grew into the multi-talented, successful young man that he is today. And he did it all without her reminders.
This story if now published in
Tales2Inspire ~ The Topaz Collection
