The Little Boy Under the Spiderman Suit
When Ben was three years old, the world changed twice.
First came lockdown in March.
Like so many children, his little world suddenly became smaller. Routines disappeared, familiar faces weren't around, and life felt different.
Then, in September, came something even bigger.
Ben was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
Laura stayed with him in hospital while the rest of us waited at home. Because of the restrictions at the time, visitors weren't allowed. I was lucky enough to see them once, but after that we could only wait and hope they were okay.
Adults understand what a diabetes diagnosis means.
A three-year-old doesn't.
A three-year-old only knows that he's in hospital, everyone is worried, his body doesn't feel right and life suddenly feels different.
As he got older, Ben found his own way of dealing with it.
He wore superhero suits.
First Iron Man.
Then Spiderman.
He wore them at home.
He wore them to bed.
He even wore them under his school uniform.
Some people might have seen a child who wouldn't take his costume off.
I see something different.
I see a little boy who was trying to feel brave.
I see a child who had been through something frightening and had found his own way of coping.
Looking back, I don't think those costumes were really costumes at all.
I think they were armour.
His way of saying:
"I can do this."
"I can be brave."
"I can handle whatever comes next."
Underneath that school uniform was a tiny superhero, finding his own way through one of the biggest challenges of his young life.
What I love most is that nobody took that away from him.
Laura didn't tell him he was too old.
She didn't tell him to stop.
She trusted him.
And eventually, he grew out of the suits when he was ready.
Not because anyone forced him to.
Because he no longer needed them.
Today, his love is owls. Especially the Harry Potter owls.
Every year, on the anniversary of his diagnosis, we don't focus on what was lost.
We celebrate how brave he has been.
One year we all wore owl masks and owl outfits for his diabetes party.
Not because diabetes is something to celebrate.
But because courage is.
And if there's one thing Ben has taught me, it's that children often find their own way through difficult times if we give them the space to do so.
Sometimes what looks unusual to adults is actually a child being incredibly brave.
And underneath that Spiderman suit was one of the bravest little warriors I know. ❤️
Stay Connected
Join the Paint the Moon newsletter for new articles, practical tools and resources designed to help parents understand big emotions, busy brains and life's challenges.
