30 Day Thankful Challenge: Thankful for "Factor Time" during the maturing age!

     So on the Prophyholic Facebook page, I’m doing the 30 days of Thankfulness Challenge and applying it to being a Prophyholic Hemophilia Mom.  I’m nervous I won’t make it!   I’m trying hard not to miss a day or undervalue the experience with easy or repetitive things to be thankful for.

     On this journey I had an Oprah, “Aha moment”!   I am thankful for the connection time I had while giving my son his factor to treat his hemophilia.  I wanted to share this in a more detail blog post because I want every Mom to realize that “Factor Time” is a great experience and journey.

     For most Hemophilia Moms, starting home infusion for prophy is rough on you!  Most likely your child was an infant/toddler and you have to tell yourself that the pain of sticking him with this needle is less pain than a joint bleed.  So, for years you go through this several times a week, filled with good days of cooperation and bad days of him fighting you tooth and nail.  Eventually though, through my experience, as your child gets older and mature they realize that "factor time" is a must and you have his full cooperation and help.


   
     As your going through your “normal” routine of “factor time”, you begin to talk about other things… How was school today? What’s for dinner? or just randomness discussions of life.  THAT IS THE MOMENT to be Thankful for!  In that moment you are connecting!  In that moment we have the time to connect with them!  Do you remember the anti-drug commercial encouraging parents to talk to your children about drugs…where a father and teen are in the car driving somewhere NOT TALKING…then the teen gets out…to show a missed opportunity to discuss saying no to drugs.  That’s what I’m saying!  “Factor Time” is that time to connect and talk.  That was the time my son asked the craziest life questions or shared things with me he was thinking and we “heard” each other.
   
     Now, that he is self-infusing those moments are gone.  Yes, I could sit with him while he does it himself, but I want him to continue to feel that independence.  I miss our talks though!  That was our respected time by the family!  I can’t wait to get to that point with Laithan, my 3 year old, when “factor time” is not spent with me trying to mentally persuade him with gifts, distractions or promises to sit still.  I will however be mindful when that time does come for us to connect during “factor time” and be thankful for it!

     I know life is busy and we are squeezing “Factor Time” into it, but when you do have that quiet time to connect…DO IT…they grow up so fast!

Do you have any bonding rituals you do during factor time already?