{"id":36091,"date":"2014-05-21T09:20:02","date_gmt":"2014-05-21T13:20:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?post_type=feature&p=36091"},"modified":"2019-02-08T09:18:02","modified_gmt":"2019-02-08T14:18:02","slug":"diabetes-camp-why-its-really-good-for-parents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=36091","title":{"rendered":"Diabetes Camp: Why It’s Really Good for Parents"},"content":{"rendered":"

Each year in early summer I worked diligently on my daughter\u2019s annual diabetes camp \u201cto do\u201d list. Sunscreen? Check. Medical plan? Check. Clothes I don\u2019t mind coming back \u2026 gamey<\/em>? Check. Oh, yes, I made absolutely sure her camp experience was going to be perfect.<\/p>\n

But here\u2019s a secret I didn\u2019t share then: I had another list going as well, a diabetes camp list just as vital, detailed and yes, important for the success of the camp experience as hers.<\/p>\n

I called it my \u201cMe Camp List.\u201d And while it may sound selfish and it may seem cold, my list of what I needed for myself and the rest of my family while my child with diabetes was away at camp was just as studied.<\/p>\n

Because here\u2019s the secret said aloud: Diabetes camp is as much for the parents and the rest of the family as it is for the child with diabetes.<\/p>\n

Wait. I\u2019m going to just come right out and say it the way it really is: Diabetes camp is a complete and total diabetes vacation for ME. And the rest of my family.<\/em><\/p>\n

I had been told this, but I don\u2019t think I understood it until that first summer of 1998 after I dropped my then six-year old daughter with diabetes off at Clara Barton Camp<\/a> for a two-week session.\u00a0At first I felt guilty: there I was at home, not counting a carb, not drawing a dose, not even thinking about a meal plan. I was reclining in the delicious \u00a0luxury of life sans diabetes \u2013 footrest and all. But \u2026 my child still had diabetes. Was it wrong for me to revel in my abandon (of diabetes?) What kind of mom was I?<\/p>\n

But then she came home happy, safe and completed by her camp experience. And there I was: rested, refreshed and renewed; ahead of any burn out and ready to take on another year of life as a D-mom, until camp came again. How about that?<\/em> Turned out that abandoning my D-Mom life for that two weeks was actually what was best for my child.<\/p>\n

Experts agree. Marisa Hilliard, Ph.D, clinical pediatric psychologist at Texas Children\u2019s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine said taking that break is good for the entire family.<\/p>\n

\u201cParenting any child or teenager – and especially one with a chronic condition like diabetes – takes a lot out of a person. It can be hard for parents to find time to refill their personal resources, but it is so important that they do that. Knowing their children are in good hands at diabetes camp can be a great opportunity for parents to take care of themselves and prioritize their own needs for a few days.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hillard said the notion parents have that this is selfish (\u201cMy child cannot take a day off, why should I?\u201d) is one she addresses with families often. \u201c Some might worry that this is selfish, but another way to think about it is that parents have to be fully stocked on energy, optimism, and persistence in order to have enough personal resources on hand to best take care of their child and his\/her diabetes. Even though the daily grind can sometimes feel like it revolves around diabetes care, this time can also be an opportunity for families to focus on and enjoy other things that are important to them – this can help combat “diabetes burnout” and fortify the family’s strengths.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why I think it\u2019s important for parents to make a list for themselves and the rest of their family and then stick to it during diabetes camp weeks. It\u2019s just too easy for diabetes to remain front and center in our lives, even when our kids are away. A little work at tucking it away isn\u2019t just not<\/em> selfish, it might just be semi selfless, since it makes us both physically and emotionally stronger, and helps bolster the entire family. Here\u2019s a starting list of a Me Camp List. Consider adopting it and adding to it.<\/p>\n

*Check off the \u201cdo not call\u201d option with camp. Listen: you do not need to know all the blood sugar trends each day. Diabetes camp is a place to be trusted (if you\u2019ve done your homework and picked a quality camp). Let them<\/em> deal with the day-to-day and yes sometimes hour-to-hour insulin\/carb\/etc decisions. If there is a true emergency: they\u2019ll call. As the now-ubiquitous song says, \u201cLet it go.\u201d<\/p>\n

*Turn off all the alarm clocks in the house. Okay, not the one that wakes you to go to work. But do check your phone and any other alarms you have set and turn them off. Sleep in. Or wake up early on your own and just enjoy the morning hours. There\u2019s no need for extra alarms these weeks. And while you are at it: store away and out of sight any diabetes supplies or tools that may be on counters. Clear the necessary clutter for the short time it is not necessary.<\/p>\n

*Log off of your diabetes related social media sites. I know, I know, that\u2019s your support system and really, your circle of friends. But you need<\/em> to get away from talking about diabetes, thinking about diabetes and letting it seep into your mind. Social media will still be there when you return. Bid your sites a \u201csee you soon!\u201d and click off until camp is over. (You can use your free time to shop on Etsy!)<\/p>\n

*Take a volunteer vacation too. Each year when my daughter was at camp, my charity of choice knew I was not to be contacted those two weeks. That\u2019s because I told them. Staffers at places like JDRF, DRI and ADA get well-deserved vacation time. Volunteers need it too. Even if it meant missing some big event, if it fell during my diabetes vacation time (oops, I mean my daughter\u2019s camp time), it was a no go for me. I think this made me a better volunteer.<\/p>\n

*Take a destination vacation. Married or single, dating or alone, you need some \u201cgrown up time\u201d without diabetes on board. With your child at camp, you don\u2019t need to find someone who can care for them, and you don\u2019t need to worry about them. Book an overnight somewhere \u2013 even if all you can afford is the little inn a few miles away \u2013 and submerge yourself in that \u201caway from it all\u201d feeling. The French Canadians have a saying \u201cde croche\u201d which means \u201cto unhook,\u201d and less literally, to get away from all that holds you down in life. Do it.<\/p>\n

*Take a second destination vacation: This time with the other kids along. It\u2019s been a long time since your other children have experienced life without diabetes poking its head into everything. Let them pick an overnight: camping? A hotel in the city and a movie? Whatever they like, make it happen. And let the kids set the entire agenda. They need to feel that (albeit temporary) freedom from diabetes too. If you cannot afford an overnight, let your kids design a \u201clocal vacation.\u201d You can go to a beach or a bike path with a picnic, or to a free museum or other venue. Be creative.<\/p>\n

*Take your other kids food shopping: and let them pick out whatever they want. You don\u2019t realize it, but they\u2019ve been focused on the carbs and the spikes and all you talk about around food as well. Let them \u201cjust be kids\u201d and experience normal life without diabetes on board for a short time. And then, let them set the meal schedule. Midnight breakfast? Why not \u2013 there\u2019s no insulin schedule to ponder.<\/p>\n

*Don\u2019t arrive early to pick your kid up from camp (but don\u2019t be late either). Sure, it\u2019s a long week or two and you miss them, but savor every moment (and allow them to savor every moment at camp). It goes by so quickly; this vacation and rest from diabetes, and you need every bit of it.<\/p>\n

This I learned quickly. The first year I dropped my daughter off at camp I hung around for hours, tripled checked every single thing and briefly considered just staying there, hiding behind a tree and popping out every few hours to whisper \u201cAre you low?\u201d The second year? I slowed down the car as we approached, shoved her out the door and peeled out. Okay: I\u2019m kidding. But I did learn to shift quickly from focusing on her and her diabetes to embracing that \u201cMe List.\u201d<\/p>\n

We grew up a better family for it. Of this, I am quite sure.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s important for parents to make a list for themselves and the rest of their family and then stick to it during diabetes camp weeks. It\u2019s just too easy for diabetes to remain front and center in our lives, even when our kids are away. A little work at tucking it away isn\u2019t just not selfish, it might just be semi selfless, since it makes us both physically and emotionally stronger, and helps bolster the entire family.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":42002,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1430],"tags":[20,1299],"yoast_head":"\nDiabetes Camp: Why It's Really Good for Parents<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Parents should make a list for themselves and the rest of the family and then stick to it during diabetes camp weeks.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=36091\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Moira McCarthy\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=36091\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=36091\",\"name\":\"Diabetes Camp: Why It's Really Good for Parents\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=36091#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=36091#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/iStock_Freedom-1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2014-05-21T13:20:02+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2019-02-08T14:18:02+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/#\/schema\/person\/da9789c052843c4223a7b58094bdd156\"},\"description\":\"Parents should make a list for themselves and the rest of the family and then stick to it during diabetes camp weeks.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=36091#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=36091\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=36091#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/iStock_Freedom-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/iStock_Freedom-1.jpg\",\"width\":884,\"height\":543,\"caption\":\"Diabetes Camp: Why It's Really Good for Parents\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=36091#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Diabetes Camp: Why It’s Really Good for Parents\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/\",\"name\":\"ASweetLife\",\"description\":\"The Diabetes Magazine\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/#\/schema\/person\/da9789c052843c4223a7b58094bdd156\",\"name\":\"Moira McCarthy\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4979fd2b2da2f47d72073190a6fc3e75?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4979fd2b2da2f47d72073190a6fc3e75?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Moira McCarthy\"},\"description\":\"Moira McCarthy was pursuing her dream career in active sports journalism when her young daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 1997. 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