Kay’s first day back at school was this past Monday, August 11th. This is her third year in Pre-K, and next year she’ll be heading off to kindergarten! What a bittersweet milestone that will be.
We’ve been so lucky to have the same Pre-K teacher for all three years, and I have truly enjoyed every bit of it. Both her teacher and the teacher’s aide have been wonderful with Kay! Always supportive, encouraging, and willing to go above and beyond, both in and out of the classroom. They’ve even joined walks in support of Kay, whether it’s for GiGi’s Playhouse or the Breakthrough T1D walk, which means so much to us.
Kay’s teacher shared that she had a great first day. She stayed where she was supposed to, remembered most of the routines and procedures, and only dumped out one box of toys, which she cleaned up afterward. That’s a big improvement from previous years! Kay has always loved dumping things out and making a mess. While she usually cleans up, sometimes it takes a little more encouragement, so this felt like a win.
I’m truly grateful for the overall experience we’ve had at her school, and I hope it continues once she moves to full-day classes. Right now, she attends just 2½ hours a day, which makes it easier for the school to manage her diabetes. Full-day school will be a bit more challenging, and I know many parents of children with Type 1 Diabetes share the same worry, entrusting others to handle what you’ve been managing yourself every day. Still, just like with everything else, I’ll do what I can to make things as smooth as possible for Kay and for those caring for her.
Caring for someone with diabetes is truly a 24/7 job. There are so many factors that can impact blood sugar, far beyond just food. Teaching someone even a small piece of what’s involved in managing it can feel overwhelming, but I know that with patience, communication, and support, we’ll navigate this next chapter together.