What have you always wanted to say to your child's teacher

Is there something about type I diabetes that you always wanted to say to your child's teacher but just couldn't? A fact or maybe a personal story? Have you ever dreamt of telling the administrator (that looked at you cross when you asked for an addition to your child's 504 plan) that you haven't slept through the night in countless years? Have you even once considered telling someone to go $%#@ themselves but instead smiled and nodded?

Tomorrow I will be giving a workshop at the Hamilton, NJ Barnes & Noble to fifty teachers about 504 Plans from the families perspective. We'll be talking about why I think that forming good relationships is so vital for not just the child, but the family, the school and the educator.

If you have something that you'd like me to pass on into the world, something that you think would help an educator to better understand our lives - I'd love to carry your message to them. 

I genuinely believe that if the school could just get a glimpse into the world that we live in, they would become better partners in our children's education... and not just for children with type I diabetes.

There are so many families that would benefit from that understanding. Tomorrow I'm hoping to send a message that will reverberate beyond the few districts that will be represented. I want to leave them with a story that they will be touched and informed by, one that they will want to retell.

More information about the event is here on Barnes & Noble's website.

This Picture Makes Me Smile

Do you see Arden in the middle of the purple glowing smoke, the one wearing the hat. Arden danced the night away on Saturday during her first Bar Mitzvah without a care in the world. I just wanted to take a second to tell everyone how grateful my family is for the technology that makes moments like this better. Without Arden's DexCom G4 I would have interrupted her fun countless times during the evening. Each time taking her from the moment and drawing attention to her diabetes. Instead, we were able to monitor her post meal BGs from across the room and when she did require a bolus of insulin, I never took her OmniPod PDM out of my pocket. 

Wireless. Tubleless. Goodness.

Knowing that Arden was safe, carefree and completely unencumbered by diabetes while she danced is a feeling that may be lost on other parents, but I think that every parent of a child with type I will look at his photo and smile along with me. As a father, I found this moment to be completely joyous - nothing beats seeing my kids live without limits.

Have a great week!

Scott

GiveAway: Signed copy of my new book.

Hello and welcome to my super blatant attempt to get you to share the news about my new book, 'Life Is Short, Laundry Is Eternal'. Let's not mix words, I need your help getting the word out and I am giving away some of my personal stash of signed books in trade - sound fair? 

I like to keep giveaways simple so how about you post on FaceBook, Twitter or Pinterest something like, "I can't wait to read Life Is Short, Laundry Is Eternal - http://bit.ly/AdLIS" and then leave a comment under this post telling me where you shared, something like this, "I want to win and I posted on FaceBook". Just make sure to include this link http://bit.ly/AdLIS when you post - it points to a book info page on Arden's Day, not to any retailer.

If by some chance there is more than, let's say, 50 20 entries, I'll giveaway another book. If we reach 100 60 entries, I'll add a third book and so on until my supply runs low, the contest gets boring or I get scolded by my publisher for giving away books. 

Arden will draw a winner randomly from a hat, I'll contact you so you can choose how you'd like the book signed (nothing too dirty) and then personally mail you your book. Perhaps the lucky winner(s) will consider writing a short book review that I can post here on Arden's Day, maybe send a picture of you and your book?

As with any contest, please only enter once per book, one entry per person and let's say I reserve the right to make this up as we go along.

Update on Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at 8:32PM by Scott Benner

Contest is closed. Winner will be announced tomorrow. 4/23/13 8:30pm

Update on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 8:13AM by Scott Benner

The winner has been chosen!

Please contact me at ardensday@me.com to make shipping arrangements. Congratulations!

Hoping vs Living

I want type I diabetes to be cured. I hope in my heart that it happens in time to benefit Arden, but I do not spend time hoping for a cure. I try not to confuse hoping with hope, though it's difficult on some days not to.

This morning while I was doing maintenance on Arden's Day, I noticed that a Google user found my blog by searching the phrase, "how close is a cure for type 1 diabetes" and my heart ached for them.

If you are that person, or more likely, if you are a person who has diabetes or loves someone who has diabetes...

Please know that I have felt like that too. I've wondered in my mind, cried out loud and franticly searched the internet for the answer to the only riddle that matters. I think that it is immensely normal to hope and thoroughly human to fight for that hope to become your reality. I relate to the feeling that would lead you to a web browser. I know how difficult it was to type your query.

You are not alone. I understand. I know what it feels like to want to blur the line between hope and the grand amount of fortitude that is required from you every day - I know that you need a break. The only advice that I can lend with confidence is the advice that works for me. Don't give up. There is nothing worse than giving up. Fight. Try to be hopeful without hoping. Be strong when you are anything but. How do you do that? You don't give up. When that doesn't work... when you drift away from reality and hoping seems like a great place to escape to for a little while... Find someone who understands, let them lend you the strength that you need.

There is an entire community of diabetes advocates online that understands how you feel. Find them. They are on Twitter, FaceBook, they write blogs - find them.

Another great place to meet people is on the DSMA twitter chat that happens every Wednesday night at 9pm EST. It's run by a wonderful woman named Cherise and is a great place to meet other people just like you. Learn more about DSMA at this link.

We don't live with diabetes, diabetes lives with us. We have the power. On the days that it feels otherwise, find someone who understands because nothing is more powerful or more renewing than community.

Thank You!

Thank you...

... for supporting me over the last year while I wrote my book.

... for reading the book.

... for considering reading the book.

... for the wonderful reviews.

... for telling a friend.

... for your touching words of encouragement.

... for the emails, tweets and FaceBook messages.

... for putting up with the blog turning into an infomercial this week.

... for laughing while you read.

... for crying along with me (If you cried when you read it, be sure that I cried while I wrote it).

... for helping to make me a published author.

... for reading Arden's Day.

Next week when you see a new post it won't include the words life, laundry, short, eternal, confessions, dad, stay - I promise. But for this week...

Life Is Short, Laundry Is Eternal: Confessions of a Stay-At-Home Dad is my first book. Its on sale now everywhere that books are sold in paperback and on your favorite eBook formats.

You can buy it today on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, Amazon Canada, Amazon UK, IndieBound and more.

If you've read Life Is Short and enjoyed it, I hope that you consider writing a review at one of the online sellers listed above. And please share your experience with a friend (or twenty).

So that's pretty much it. The links will stay on Arden's Day, reader pictures will continue to scroll on the sidebar, and from time-to-time I'll share book information and reviews on the main page. All ongoing book information will be posted on the FaceBook page that exists for the book or on this sub page of Arden's Day.

This has been one of the most stunning and fulfilling years of my life and there is still lots more to come... 

Thank you for everything!

Scott Benner