Monday, May 2, 2011

Job burnout. And he's 7.

Last week when it was time for L to check his sugar at school, he announced, "Time to go to work AGAIN! I'm so tired of my job!"

He's burning out.

At the Endo's office on Wednesday he spent the majority of his time sitting on the OUTSIDE of the Endo's office door. He just didn't want to talk about it. He didn't want to be there. He didn't want to answer her questions...you could see it all over his face. Burn out city.

It isn't a stretch to say that diabetes is a job. He works all day! The VERY FIRST THING he does in the morning is check his sugar. The VERY LAST THING he does at night is check his sugar. And in between is filled with blood sugar tests and constant button pushing. Sure, I take the graveyard shift...but his part is a big responsibility for such a little guy.

He is 7.

He has been "on the job" for 5 years now.

He deserves some time off for good behavior...right?

So on the suggestion of Julie from Pumpwear, I'm going to give L a week off. Well, not completely...he'll still have to check his sugars at school...but when he is home, I won't be asking him to check his own sugars. I will just go to him and do it for him. I won't ask him to bolus for his food, I'll grab his pump and do it for him.

He needs a little break. And since I'm in the position to give it to him...I will. That is, if he'll let me.

I'm going to run my plan by him in the car after I pick him up from school.

I'll report back next week.

Now if I can just find someone who is willing to take over my laundry "job" for a week...

19 comments:

  1. I think that's a great idea. I do it for Bee a lot just to give her some time off. She doesn't seem so irritated when I ask her to check after giving her some time away from doing it. I think it really does help!

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  2. Wonderful idea! I hope it helps. It's so hard when burn-out hits.

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  3. Same here...Charlotte is 7 and we've also been at this for 5 years too. She's been asking me to check and bolus her lately. Wish I could just take it all away for her :( Hopefully some time "off" from the daily tedious D-tasks will help!

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  4. Give L a belly bump from me and a "WHAT BE THE HAPS?" from Joe...GET-IT...LOVE the "Week Off" plan. My mind goes crazy when I think of them never-ever-never-ever getting a break ever. That is the most difficult thing when explaining D to non-D peeps...the "never-ending-ness" of it all.

    I'll come do your laundry if you'll let me hang out with you. I love you Meri.

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  5. Oh Meri - a fabulous idea! I do the same thing with G every now and then - she gets 'days off' and she smiles when I come in and check/bolus her. I think L deserves some time off and you are a wonderful Mama pancreas my dear!

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  6. Speaking as an adult who's been T1 since I was 4, I would love someone to give me a week off. I'm glad you can do that for him. He's got the rest of his life to have full control. Getting a break while he can is wonderful.

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  7. Meri,
    I have to tell you when i did this with Nikki it was a real eye opener to me again to see how 24/7 it really is for our kids. Nikki really enjoyed the vacation and it gave me a refreshed insite to what she is going through. be sure to tell us how it goes! Julie

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  8. Such a great idea. We have to do what we can, while we can...hope he lets you!!

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  9. Good idea - I also think that the added stress of "end of school" can be difficult - Add in the d, and it's just one thing after the other.

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  10. Cool concept - keep us posted! A week off sounds dreamy :)

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  11. Good idea..hope it helps him.

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  12. Awww! Great Idea! Let me know how it goes... I hope he takes a little break and comes back refreshed!

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  13. Brilliant Meri! What a great idea. Please let us know how it goes.

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  14. Tuggin' at my heart. Ellie just tonight told me that one of her fingers was "worn out" she's never said that before. I just paused and asked which one she wanted me to check on. She could tell I felt bad and she smiled and said, do this one...it's REALLY smooth! Ugh! I wanted to melt away. Of course her numbers have been running off the charts high tonight so we've been testing non-stop all evening...Changed a Pod location...bolused,and bolused...she's still over 300 and Dexter is showing two arrows up...You know these nights, the ones where you put your patients hat on and settle in for a sleepless night of cussing insulin for being so damn slow, yet so damn dangerous.
    I'm just hoping everyone updated their blog posts today so I have something to do in my 2 hour increments of time "in between"!
    Give L a ((hug)) and a wink from me. Thanks Meri for sharing your life with D.

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  15. You are the best D-Mama eva' for giving your little man a break. So stinkin' coolio of you. How did he react???

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  16. I think this is a great idea. My daughter, Ava, is on MDI and does her injections at school. At home she always wants me to do them for her. No problem - she's 9 and has her whole life to have to deal with this. We are having some burnout too. This morning she declared she wasn't taking her meter to school and didn't want to eat breakfast. Much arguing ensued and she left the house scowling and pissed off. Unusual for a girl who is so responsible and on top of her diabetes. Best of luck to you and your little guy.

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  17. If you find the Laundry Fairy, please let her know that she's slacking over here.

    Great idea, my friend.

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  18. Meri - I've been thinking about you guys often this week, it's halfway through and I hope all is going well with the "week off" . Give us an update sometime if you don't mind, the whole idea of burnout with Isaac freaks me out since he was so young at dx...you know another lovely thing to make this mama worry :)
    Take care!

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  19. I've read your vacation update post too. I'm glad it's working out so well for both of you and applaud you for taking the steps.

    It's a hard balance to know what they are ready for - both physically, mentally AND emotionally. But we listen to their cues. And you are clearly listening. Great for you Meri (though, really, I would expect nothing less from you.)

    :)

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