Admiring Awesomeness - Day 1
Monday, May 9, 2011 at 6:30AM It’s day one of the second annual D-Blog week. Thank you Karen for coming up with such an awesome idea. There are a GRIP of D-Bloggers out there participating so check them out!
Admiring our differences - Monday 5/9: We are all diabetes bloggers, but we come from many different perspectives. Last year, Diabetes Blog Week opened my eyes to all of the different kinds of blogs (and bloggers) out there – Type 1s, Type 2s, LADAs, parents of kids with diabetes, spouses of adults with diabetes and so on. Today let’s talk about how great it is to learn from the perspectives of those unlike us! Have you learned new things from your T2 friends? Are D-Parents your heroes? Do LADA blogs give you insight to another diagnosis story? Do T1s who’ve lived well with diabetes since childhood give you hope? Pick a type of blogger who is different from you and tell us why they inspire you - why you admire them - why it’s great that we are all the same but different!!
When I read the topic for Day one of Diabetes Blog Week someone immediately popped into my head.
Bennet Dunlap.
He is the Father of 4 kids, 2 of which have type 1 and he inspires me more than he knows. Well, until now.
Bennet is involved with several sites but the one he blogs at regularly is Your Diabetes May Vary. His mix of humor, honesty, information, and knowledge makes his blog one I make sure I often visit.
I have had the pleasure of getting to meet and hang out with Bennet at the Roche Social Media summit (both years) and the recent Medtronic Diabetes Advocates Forum. He is down to earth, funny, caring, and willing to speak up.
His courage to stand up for people with diabetes inspires me. It is empowering to know that there are people like him in the world who don't have a problem calling BS when they need to.
The way he talks about his kids and how he deals with their diabetes is so right on too. He is probably one of the best parents I know and that is even before the awesome D-parent he is. He gets it. He pays attention to what is going on in the world about diabetes. He reads blogs and wants to learn from other type 1's to help understand his kids better.
He just gets it.
And he is one awesome advocate! I actually read an article by Bennet before I was even in the OC! I was planning a trip to Disneyworld and I came across this post called Disney with Type 1 Diabetes and it was written by him or I should say, the whole family! AWESOME!
And then there is theBetes:Now which his son is involved in. You should definitely check out that site. They are doing some very cool things too.
Great parents raise great kids. The proof is in the pudding. And not the gross sugar free kind.
His heart is huge and is genuine, another thing I admire. I am proud to call him my friend and am thankful he fights for the disease I fight for too.
So Bennet, keep up the good work my friend and thank you so much for inspiring me and so many to be the best advocates we can be.
Reader Comments (17)
I haven't seen theBetes:now, I will pop over and check it out. The Disney post is great though.
Bennet is the SHIT. What a great post, G. And if I can raise my kid with half the class and love that both you and Bennet have shown your families, my daughter will be fine. You are both parents to raise a glass, too. (Even though it's a bit early for that, so consider the glass raised later tonight to YOU guys. P:) )
Great post, George! I'm looking forward to checking out the Disney blog post and theBetes:Now.
Thanks George! I read allears.net all the time. Can't believe I missed Bennet's area. We are planning our first trip since my daughter's diagnosis for the fall. Now get started writing tomorrow's post while I read everything Bennet has to say about the World. :-)
Bennet is DA BOMB! I was also fortunate enough to meet him in real life, and he is one of the "realist" guys I know!
I love YDMV as well. Gotta go check out the other one.
Great post, in agreement with Justice your so cool Mr Ninja!
Great post by a wonderful dad, about a wonderful dad. You both rock.
Great post, George! You're absolutely right in that Bennet does rock and is an incredible perspective to have in this community and just know all around! I think it's interesting to note something else, too... You were one of the first D-Bloggers I found. Looking for that perspective of those "like me," and came across you and a couple others. While you are "like me" in a sense, your experiences and perspective is different and your own and that helps me learn and apply that to my own life. Everyone out there is an inspiration, and I don't think I'd be a part of this community without having found you, George. Thanks for doing what you do and being who you are, my friend. God Bless.
Great salute to Bennet! He is an all-around great guy and fantastic parent. Andhe will be embarrassed that we all wrote about him, which will be funny, so there's that too. He has great points about raising kiddos with the D. In our area, he also runs the Betes Now support group which we go to. Great event with a great guy.
I've read that DIsney post, but never went back to read more. Shame on me....thank you for brining Bennet to my (our) attention.
Love you George!
great tribute
Oh for pity damn sake George. Your comment to me made me cry too........
Anyway, I think you are a fabulous father. Your kids have already proven it.
Great post...glad to have found you through D Blog Week and look forward to reading more from you...thanks so much for the comment :) I'd heard about Bennet and popped over to YDMV last week for the 1st time. Definitely intrigued now after reading your post....going to have to go check out theBetes Now too!
George! Thanks for the comment! How have I missed your blog? Ninjabetic? Love it! Adding you to my blog list now so I can keep up with your ninja ways.
Bennet is the funniest dad I ever met and thats the truth! Hope to see him as well as laugh at him this year at the summit! LOL
LYMI (Love Ya, Mean It) is another one of Bennet's creations.
I love Bennet, and all that he does, and all that he shares.
Great post George.
Thank you for your comment George - I'm a long-time fan of your ninja posts!