Cadence has always been a bit of a watcher by nature. Every since she went through her experience of becoming
diabetic, she's been standoffish of things and people that are new and different. Her white coat syndrome is entrenched in subconscious experience. A great example of that is her bicycle. I bought her a bike 2 years ago and she has always feared it yet loved it at the same time. It felt like a personal failure for us, as Nicole and I live for riding, it's always been the reason why for us. So for 1.5 years Cadence would walk her bike when we'd go to the park always fearing going too fast. Fearful enough that her bike was always best utilized when carefully walked, not recklessly ridden.
And then there was Jazz.
Jazz is Cadence's best friend. They share more hugs than words and everytime we go driving she asks "is that Jazz's car?". If she was in her 20's we'd probably have a stalking case on our hands but since they're only 5, it's just as cute as can be. Jazz took to riding her bike almost immediately, likely thanks to her super-parents Tracy and Rob. She ripped up and down her block with "no training wheels" well before Cadence had confidently ridden her first hill. The competitive juices of Cadence came to the surface when she found this out and she was now ready to drop the training wheels and "rock it like Jazzy-Jazz". I have to admit I was fearful of this next step since she barely liked her bike to move let alone tip over. So a day was spent with me running along side of her gradually lightening my grip. I wasn't convinced on the success of this venture thus the training wheels and a crescent wrench went along for the ride in her pink, flower-powered basket, hugged compassionately on all sides by her favourite stuffed animals. But as the evening wore on there was a moment when I stopped and she continued on 2 wheels, by herself. She stopped after 4 pedal strokes of two-wheeled freedom. Looked down at her feet to see what she had done and looked back at me with eyes that said "I did it! I really, really did it...(like Jazz)". It's a moment that almost every parent gets to experience, so I don't mean to sound like this is something that is so unique and special, a single experience in existence. But... it was our experience, amazingly unique and special... truly, a moment where she broke free of our grip on her life. It was a landmark event where she was independent of all crutches. Whether she felt this is for her to answer but I can only tell you that she has changed immensely since that moment in our eyes.
A week later, Cadence raced her first Triathlon in Windermere, with Jazz of course. I can tell you it was the most fun I've ever had in a race and I hope she felt the same way. It was so amazing to see her go through her mental race prep, the ingrained genetic traits that you pass on indirectly to your children. Before a race, I usually get quiet for awhile and look on in the distance focusing on my headspace. Right before the start, i become nervously giddy and social with everyone around me. It was so cool to see that in her. I can only hope she has better success than me ;P .
The race was an absolute BLAST! A 50m swim to transition...hugs with Jazz, then a 1.5km bike ride to transition...hugs with Jazz, and then a 500m run of which I was at her side for the whole thing. It was just an incredibly cool moment. She of course kicked it at the line and "beated Jazz" but she described it as "I winned before Jazz winned". Jazz would get her back next race however, grabbing the victory in the last 25m of the race. Well played Jazz!
"I WINNED"
Cadence is a different kid since she dropped those training wheels and never looked back. She has become brave, adventurous, mischievous, and we love it. She wants to bike everywhere, explore, and do stuff. She is bolusing her own insulin now, doesn't cry for infusion site changes, has even decided she wants to try and do one herself soon. It's really amazing. The added bonus to all of this newfound independence and confidence is that it's rubbing off on Hailey. She can't use her brakes just yet but she's all about dropping her training wheels! We're tempering that process. Additionally, Nic and I have become re-passioned with cycling and fitness . We're back into it and man does it feel good.
So a big thanks goes out to Jazz. A big thanks to my Cadence, since you Winned, we winned!
Kids need a challenge to help them explore what's possible. To hold them back from experience serves to hold you as a parent back. Allow your kids to explore and be mischievous, in what they discover could be a great awakening for your own spirit.
Onward without restraint,
b.
Oh and also just a quick little P.S. - in all of the stuff that's happened this summer I'd just like to say:
F*CK YOU Diabetes, our last A1C was 6.9!
