Confidence

The following happened yesterday afternoon, after school. The interaction took place between Joe and one of his oldest and dearest friends. Children, and adults for that matter, can say things out of anger and frustration.


The snow was falling, heavy and wet. Joe was playing with a group of friends in the distance. I approached with Woodchuck. After school lows have been a frequent companion lately. A quick check confirmed it. 68. A juice was spiked and dispensed. Joe knocked it back.

I then gently probed him about a disagreement that he had just had with his friend.

"He was being mean to me mom. I told him that if he kept acting like that he would not have any friends. THEN. He said to me that if I still had diabetes when I was an adult I would not have any friends."

I wasn't really interested in the "he said-he said" business of the incident. There was only one thing I wanted to be sure of...

Before I walked off to leave him with his pals, I casually asked ... not wanting to make a big deal of the situation ... "Joe, you know that is not true?... right? ... diabetes will not make people not like you."

In an authentic, upbeat voice, Joe said "Of course not mom. Diabetes makes me even cooler. I'll always have friends."

I walked away. My heart was light.

A day-in-the-life of confidence despite diabetes, perhaps ... dare I say it? ... enhanced by it.