“...Chapter titles are like signs
And if you read between the lines
You'll find your first impression was mistook
For a cover is nice
But a cover is not the book”
-Mary Poppins Returns-
As a parent, I’m always trying to unlock a mystery. Most often, it’s the case of the missing whatever we can’t sleep without tonight. My favorite is the mystery of I no longer like that even though I ate it yesterday without an issue.
The hardest mysteries are the behavior changes. Every time I hear a little one in the grocery store having a meltdown, my brain instantly starts analyzing why they’re having a meltdown. Are they tired? Hungry? Sick? Do we just need to have a nice long chat? I don’t do that to judge that other mom. It’s me trying to keep myself aware that there are a lot of factors behind temper tantrums.
If you wouldve asked me a few years ago, my response would’ve been completely different. I had one solution for fits. I now look deeper into the why.
I don't do that to make excuses for behaviour that needs to be corrected. If the behavior warrants discipline, then by all means, do it. But I’ve learned to not jump right to the discipline without first looking beyond the cover.
Last October, Miss A had a little stomach virus. She was a sick little gal so we took her to our local ER to get her some relief. They ended up doing way more than that. They did an x-ray and needed a urine sample. I was so annoyed. After 6 hours, I thought to myself, “just give her a zofran so we can go home!”
Fast forward to May. Miss A has been growing like a weed. She’s also been having explosive, rage-filled tantrums. The kind of tantrums that make you question whether you’re qualified to be a parent. Tantrums that involve her hitting me and clinging to a pylon in the grocery store parking lot all while screaming at the top of her lungs.
These tantrums, however, started to feel way to familiar to me.
When I was younger, I had these moments of explosive rage. Once the rage passed, I would find myself physically drained. But it wasn’t until I was pregnant with Mr. D that these “tantrums” finally were given a name.
Hypoglycemia.
So yesterday, Miss A went for a little checkup. Remember that ER visit we had way back in October? That urinalysis showed a trace amount of ketones. Add that together with her “tantrums”, and Miss A now finds herself joining the hypoglycemic club.
So, what does this mean?
No, she’s not diabetic.
She just deals with low blood sugar.
Some might call it “hangry”.
Its controlled through diet.
Protein and carbs and meals more often.
(Between every 2-3 hours).
Yes, she can eat like a normal child.
She can eat sweats and treats.
But like always, we are attempting to choose “good foods”.
She may outgrow it.
It possibly has been brought on by her growth spurt. (3 pounds and 1/2 this month!)
And no. She doesn’t have to do a glucose tolerance test at this point. Praise the Lord for that!!
And if you read between the lines
You'll find your first impression was mistook
For a cover is nice
But a cover is not the book”
-Mary Poppins Returns-
As a parent, I’m always trying to unlock a mystery. Most often, it’s the case of the missing whatever we can’t sleep without tonight. My favorite is the mystery of I no longer like that even though I ate it yesterday without an issue.
The hardest mysteries are the behavior changes. Every time I hear a little one in the grocery store having a meltdown, my brain instantly starts analyzing why they’re having a meltdown. Are they tired? Hungry? Sick? Do we just need to have a nice long chat? I don’t do that to judge that other mom. It’s me trying to keep myself aware that there are a lot of factors behind temper tantrums.
If you wouldve asked me a few years ago, my response would’ve been completely different. I had one solution for fits. I now look deeper into the why.
I don't do that to make excuses for behaviour that needs to be corrected. If the behavior warrants discipline, then by all means, do it. But I’ve learned to not jump right to the discipline without first looking beyond the cover.
Last October, Miss A had a little stomach virus. She was a sick little gal so we took her to our local ER to get her some relief. They ended up doing way more than that. They did an x-ray and needed a urine sample. I was so annoyed. After 6 hours, I thought to myself, “just give her a zofran so we can go home!”
Fast forward to May. Miss A has been growing like a weed. She’s also been having explosive, rage-filled tantrums. The kind of tantrums that make you question whether you’re qualified to be a parent. Tantrums that involve her hitting me and clinging to a pylon in the grocery store parking lot all while screaming at the top of her lungs.
These tantrums, however, started to feel way to familiar to me.
When I was younger, I had these moments of explosive rage. Once the rage passed, I would find myself physically drained. But it wasn’t until I was pregnant with Mr. D that these “tantrums” finally were given a name.
Hypoglycemia.
So yesterday, Miss A went for a little checkup. Remember that ER visit we had way back in October? That urinalysis showed a trace amount of ketones. Add that together with her “tantrums”, and Miss A now finds herself joining the hypoglycemic club.
So, what does this mean?
No, she’s not diabetic.
She just deals with low blood sugar.
Some might call it “hangry”.
Its controlled through diet.
Protein and carbs and meals more often.
(Between every 2-3 hours).
Yes, she can eat like a normal child.
She can eat sweats and treats.
But like always, we are attempting to choose “good foods”.
She may outgrow it.
It possibly has been brought on by her growth spurt. (3 pounds and 1/2 this month!)
And no. She doesn’t have to do a glucose tolerance test at this point. Praise the Lord for that!!