Top 5 ways for parents to keep your cool with diabetes this summer
WOOHOO! Schools out! Water-play, smell of sunscreen, maybe a weekend getaway or 2. Who doesn’t love long summer days and crisp evenings. AND with that comes a transition and often times a need for a regroup around diabetes management.
My son had his first swim lesson last week without a parent in the pool and his first class since last summer. He cried. Then of course by the last 5 mins he seemed to adjust to the water, new instructor, and was waving to me behind the glass. It took time and trust.
Transitions to a new summer routine (or lack thereof) can be hard. It can take up to 3-4 weeks for families to feel settled in a new normal. I know I have lost my cool at the end of a LONG day, felt overtired, overwhelmed, and just done listening to Disney music for the 18,0000th time in the car.
Having a solid plan that everyone agrees on and can visually see is key for all involved to feel successful and heard. Kids are visual learners (heck most adults are too).
Do you have a communication plan in place around diabetes? How do you manage spontaneous playdates? Excessive ice cream demands after dinner? Trying to get your teen to take care of themselves when you hardly ever see them. Let’s dig in.
1. Create a communication plan that works for you. Call a family meeting. Bring a big poster board or whiteboard and write it out. Everyone (kids too) should have some goals for the summer. Not a bad idea to revisit your 504 plan if you have one. Is there anything that can still be applied at home?
Sample Goal for mom: I will change my alerts and alarms to only alarm when out of range for 4 weeks.
Sample goal for kid: I will put my PDM on my nightstand so I remember to bolus before each meal every morning for 8 weeks.
2. Emotional Vaccination-give yourself some prep time before you check in with your kid. Think about how you might feel later on in the day when you know they might be exposed to hard decision making situations with potential outcomes that might make you upset. Prep yourself, so you don’t have sticker shock when you look at the CGM.
3. Acknowledge over assumption. Find the strengths in the behavior or task your child did right. Keep your eye on the goal. “Wow that must have been tricky trying to figure out what to eat at your friends house?”
4. Ask questions. This allows them to feel like they are owning their own choices. Whether we like them or not. “What was it like to have a playdate with your friend? Tell me more about where you ate your snack?”
5. Know your role. We can be mad at diabetes ALL day long, AND our role as parents is to be mad at diabetes together and be their biggest cheerleaders. YOU GOT THIS! Boundaries and role definitions is what I often focus on first in individual sessions. It is SO important to own the role you are in and differentiate from the rest of your family.
Headed to camp this summer? Do you feel ready? Join me and my friend Stacey Simms from Diabetes Connections Friday, June 24 for a FREE webinar on getting you and your family ready for camp!
Ready to tackle more of diabetes and all the nuances that come with it? Book your FREE chat with Anna!
