Okay...I'm really going to date myself with this one, but here it goes...
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It was 1976. Our country's bicentennial year and the Olympics. Like a million other little girls, I wanted to be like Dorothy Hamill, the women's figure skating gold medalist. Wait a minute, I did not want to just be like her...I wanted to be her! In my little girl's mind, I honestly thought I could be the next Dorothy Hamill!
I spent nearly every afternoon at the local ice rink. I registered for lessons. I even bought a used ice skating outfit that looked pretty much like the one Dorothy wore in her gold medal routine. As for the haircut, I didn't go that route, but did ponder it!
It was a great couple years of dreaming...
Eventually, however, other interests popped up for me. Skating became less and less. In fact the ice arena was torn down just a few years later. I don't even know where I could take my kids ice skating locally anymore.
I guess my point here is...I truly believed I could do it. Did my parents believe it too? If they didn't, they sure acted like they did!
I want my kids to dream big. It can be what gets their hearts pumped and motivated. I want all three of them to think anything is possible. Yes, even the Olympics!
I tell my kids often what I think they're good at and that they can do anything if they put their minds to it. But, then I think about diabetes. Deep down inside, I'm really not sure if C can do anything she wants. But, we're certainly trying. Dance. Soccer. Musicals. Softball. Gymnastics. Diabetes creates real challenges. Those things are difficult to do, not impossible...just difficult.
I've watched this past week and a half until my eyes have glazed over. I want to tell C, "look, you could do that if you want!" I'd love to see an infusion site on the back of a figure skater's arm!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
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This of course makes me think of Kris Freeman and his story. If not for diabetes, would he have medaled the other day? I even wonder if he had been diagnosed earlier in life, would he have made the life decisions that he has and be a skier today? Nevertheless, there are few things that give me pause to consider if Caleb could do them. There is no doubt that anything would take more work, effort and planning. The care that Kris Freeman takes to get his bg just right so that, as he says, he can win, not just finish, is extraordinary. But clearly, he is an extraordinary person. C is also extraordinary and she will indeed be able to do anything she wants. I believe this of all our kids. I just do.
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