BRAVEST 019
GUIDING OUR KIDS TO BECOME GREATER THAN THEIR CHALLENGES
As a parent, one of the biggest challenges I personally face on a day to day basis is how to help my kids recognize, accept and ultimately overcome the inevitable hardships they'll encounter. We want to protect our kids from those difficulties, but its not possible to help them avoid all challenges, and I’m not even sure it makes sense for us to shelter our kids from the things that are hard.
In fact, and I can say this with a high level of certainty, we want our kids to hit a wall now and again. It helps them grow, it develops respect and gratitude for the world, it keeps them humble, and encountering hardship is really just a part of everyone’s path. But hardship without lesson, and without the ability to come out stronger on the other side, has the potential to be a negative and drive us on a downward spiral.
The story we’re going to uncover today is an emotional one. The cuts are still fairly fresh, and the challenges are very real. If you’re a parent of a child with type 1, this will be an important episode for you. Also, if you or someone you know was recently diagnosed, you will certainly gain a lot of perspective from my conversation with Steven and Jenn Kramer.
Steven and Jenn were blindsided by the whirlwind diagnosis their five year old son Hayden was handed earlier this year. In our time together, we discuss the months leading up to Hayden’s diagnosis. We talk about the behavioral changes Steven and Jenn noticed, as well as Hayden’s non-stop trips to the bathroom and unquenchable thirst. Ultimately, a trip to the doctor confirmed that Hayden had type 1 diabetes, and the Kramer family was propelled into the next chapter of life.
Emotion plays a major role in any life change, and in our interview, Jenn openly shares shares her personal battle with depression following Hayden’s diagnosis. We also talk about how Steven played a major role in her finally getting professional help. We discuss the importance of family and community, as well as how critical it is for Steven and Jenn to find the energy and time to take care of themselves.
We wrap up this interview talking about their new venture, Greater Than, which is aimed at raising funds to support diabetes research and also creating awareness that we are all much greater than our challenges.
Let me preface this interview by saying, while I am a big fan of what they’re doing and I support them 100%, this is not an advertisement for their company. This conversation was actually prompted by an experience I recently had, which I talk about briefly in the first few minutes. I knew, in basic terms what Steven and Jenn went through with Hayden, and I believe their insights will be of huge value to other parents out there.
This is a conversation about family, about love, and how we can teach our kids to do anything in life they desire, despite any obstacles they might encounter along the way.
Social Media Links
Greater Than - Instagram
Websites Mentioned in Podcast
Greater Than - website
Faustman Lab - website
Related Episodes
Music Credits for BRAVEST Episode 019
Intro music - Podington Bear, 'Sepia' & The Passion HiFi, 'Sweet Revenge'
Outtro music - Joakim Karud, 'That Day'
Support Our Friends!
GREATER THAN is a lifestyle brand launched by Steven and Jenn Kramer dedicated to empowering all individuals. They believe, and they want you to believe, that whatever your challenge, you're greater than that challenge.
Because of the personal impact resulting from the recent diagnosis of their son with type 1 diabetes, their first campaign focuses on the T1D community, and is branded ‘GREATER THAN 1’.
With every purchase of GREATER THAN products, a portion of each sale will be donated directly to type 1 diabetes research and support.
Visit www.ImGreaterThan.com, and use the code 'BRAVEST' at checkout to receive 10% off your entire order.