My daughter has taught me so much over the years. Most importantly, she has shown me how to always face challenges and obstacles head on and not let anything get in the way.
Most recently, she has taught me how to create my website and write blogs. She has taught me how to do Instagram posts and stories. She has taught me how to share Facebook posts.
Actually, I have been learning from her for years. You see, when she was one week shy of her 12th birthday, she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. It was definitely a tough day for all of us, but - as soon as her initial shock wore off, and we were driving to Children’s Hospital - she proceeded to say, “Ok, now that I know I have juvenile diabetes, I just need to learn how to take care of myself." At that moment, I looked at her in awe.
How could an 11-year-old have such insight and control given what she just learned? How come she wasn’t mad and hysterical? Why was she being so level-headed?
I have been learning so much from her over the years!
As I pondered these questions, I realized that she was teaching me resilience. She was teaching me how to face a challenge and rise above it. She was teaching me that her diagnosis was just that, a diagnosis. It wasn’t going to define who she was and who she was going to be. She wasn’t going to let her diagnosis stop her.
I learned so many important lessons from her that day, and she has continued to teach me more and more over the years. However, the more I think about it, the most important thing I have learned from my daughter is to always face challenges and obstacles head on and not let anything get in the way.
After all, if she was able to learn to successfully manage her diabetes at 12 years old (without any help), volunteer to help other children living with Type 1 diabetes, be a successful student, earn two Master's degrees, fall in love, and get married, all by the age of 26, she is definitely the person I have a lot to learn from!