Valetudinarianism

valetudinarianism

Not only do I want to throw an 8-or-9-syllable word at you featuring the word of the day, I want to know how you do or do not participate in valetudinarianism.

I'm learning a lot about life from my son and chronic disease. His thoughts are turning into comprehensible sentences, and I observe that his reality centers around his life experience as much as any Buddhist could hope for. Which is a good lesson for me, because I'm always bothering about this or that food and this or that medicine. Wondering about life will be like for Isaac when he's in school. Worrying about the food he'll get at the church nursery. I let it go, though, and savor my experience as the parent of a tot, savor the precious days of his youth, and enjoy my time with Isaac and his siblings to the full extent of my being.

Sure, when it comes time to eat, we'll eat our best. When there is time for internet searching I'll learn more about IBD. But I'll also get on the floor and growl like a tiger when appropriate, and I'll also scamper through the house being chased by a dinosaur too.

It's bizarre, but in the face of the misfortune of Isaac having UC, the blessings flow. Our life experience just might be more full and complete because of it. I know that with the thousands of IBD patients out there, not all people are on the same part of the journey at any given moment, but I'm pleased to find fairly early quite an inner peace about the situation. I hope to draw on that later in case of flare ups when/if the times get tougher!)

Troy
Father of Isaac, dx UC in 10/2011 at 29 months old
Read details here: http://ibdinourhome.blogspot.com

Troy - Hey it's Claire's Mom. I'm glad to see you here! I partially participate in velatudinariansm on Claire's behalf. At times, I've damn near made myself crazy. At other times, it's a good thing I was valetudinary because I caught something before she got terribly terribly ill. I need a 9 syllable word for watchful waiting - it's my new practice!

Our children have a lot to teach us, don't they? They are amazing!

Hugs,

Hey Troy,

Hands up here for valetudinarianism by proxy!

It waxes and wanes though. When they are well the worries ease a little but when they are ill it becomes constant but it's that that most likely makes us the best advocates and observers for our children.

Matt is very early in his journey with CD so at this point I don't know the effect it will have on him. Roo on the other hand is nearing 5 years down the path and I know that CD has shaped her life in a way I wouldn't have imagined. I am sure as she completed school at the end of 2009 the direction she took was shaped by how CD has affected her life and it has been in such a positive and determined fashion. I would never have dreamed of how far she has journeyed and how much she has come to learn about and believe in herself.

At one point I didn't think there could possibly be anything good to come out of this diagnosis. Of course it has forever changed Roo's life but there are many,many positives as a result of it.

Dusty.

Well done, Dusty! PROXY was the word I was looking for and all I was coming up with was Munchausen which for the record, I do not participate in!:ywow:

I agree with the waxes and wanes too. A little valetudinarianism by proxy can be a beautiful thing.

Troy - we'll need another word tomorrow!

Okay, love this. I am a word freak and I could not figure this one out from the root or anything. I wish you all did not have to participate in this by proxy though. I read the parents pages sometimes because you all make me strive to be a better person.
Michele

You all hit the nails on the heads.

The next word of the day was reticent--which could also be an IBD word I suppose!

I think you can all see by the number of posts I have on this forum that it would be fair to say that I am not reticent.