Sensor bribery

It's been a very busy week, but I wanted to blog about this in case other D-parents encounter this very strange parenting dilemma.  I never would've imagined I would need to prepare my sweet EA for this situation, which thankfully, turned out well.

EA has a sweet seatmate in her 1st grade class who has become her good friend.  This little girl is always peering over EA's shoulder while I check EA's BG, enter numbers into the sensor and deliver boluses.  For a few days in a row, EA brought home little trinkets as gifts from her seatmate, which made me suspicious.

"EA, are you ASKING for gifts?  I sure hope not!"

"No, Mom.  But my friend says I have to keep letting her touch my sensor if I want to keep getting gifts.  I want to keep getting gifts, so I taught her what to do and she checks it for me."

Say, HUH???  This alarmed me for two reasons:

1.  I don't want other children touching EA's D-equipment because it's expensive and they could possibly give her a Bolus.  EA agreed that other kids probably think her pump and sensor are a toy or video game, so they want to touch it.  Thankfully, no one has yet touched her pump.  I reiterated to EA that no one but she, her Teacher and I should be touching the sensor and the pump.  She agreed and told her little friend, who has complied.

2.  I don't want my children EVER to feel they have to do anything for gifts, money, candy, etc.  I explained very carefully to both girls that they should always do things that are good and right and that they WANT to do.  They should never do anything because someone is giving them a gift, etc.

Thankfully, EA told her seatmate who no longer touches the sensor.  She does look at it and read it when it beeps, but EA is the one to punch buttons.  I wanted to be careful not to make too big of a deal about it, so kids wouldn't back away.  There have been a number of times her friends have heard the sensor beeping, heard EA tell them that she's going low, and then the friend told the Teacher.  I love this and am very thankful for that, so I didn't want to crush that helpful attitude.

May God give us all wisdom for these parenting dilemmas that are complicated by Diabetes! It's worth the extra steps to keep everyone happy, healthy and well-adjusted.

Take care!

Jessica