Danny:  Our family always tries to CHOOSE to look at the positive side of all things.  Sometimes it is difficult, but if you CHOOSE enough times, it will become a mindful habit.  Yea, sure I have a pity party from time to time, but, as Abe Lincoln said "most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be".

My children did not have many friends in elementary school.  They were more careful than other kids, home ill often and I believe some parents discouraged their kids from connecting with my kids because they were frightened after they read my little "CAH card" I’d pass out to all parents at play dates.  Just from that experience, I find so many blessings!!  My two daughters became very close because they played with eachother often.  That in itself had tons of valuable life lessons.  Friends are fleeting, but family is forever.  Even though my girls were 3 years apart, they learned to go up or down to eachother’s level.  I always told my kids that it doesn’t matter how different your ages are, you can always find common ground to laugh!!  Look at the lessons in taking turns!!  When my girls would have a disagreement, one could not just run home to avoid dealing with the issue.  They lived in the same house, so I’d put them in a room together and tell them not to come out until they have worked it out!!  I was not the referee!!  The blessings are endless.

I also believe that not having many friends was a way of God protecting my children and solidifying their relationship & ours.  There is a lot of wrong thinking and bad parenting out there and I just believe God is all protecting -- some protections I will never even know!

My kids were afraid to sleep at people’s houses, go on church retreats, mission trips, ski clubs, etc. for fear of illness.  I just believe it was a form of protection!

Kids always asked about their medical alert braclets and why they had to take meds in the middle of the school day.  Sometimes, my kids would say it was an I.D. bracelet, hormone bracelet, CAH bracelet, etc.  If kids would ask further, my kids would try to explain it, but because its so confusing and kids have relatively short attention spans, the asking kids would loose interest before the 2nd sentence about the function of your adrenals!!   When asked about taking meds, sometimes they would say "I go CRAZY if I don’t take my meds" (said in a very CRAZY way!!), or they’d try to give the medical explanation which of course really did not get far because of the short attention span!!  (BLESSINGs from short attention spans!)  From this, my kids have developed a great sense of humor, knowledge about their adrenal glands that 90% of adults will never know and amazing coping skills which will help them achieve success in ANYTHING they choose!!!

My oldest daughter (16yrs) old wants to be either a geneticist or a CAH psychologist!!!

Anon:  Rip down the angry, shameful, pity party wall paper plastered in your mind.  (please don’t take that as a put-down, we all feel angry, shameful in our pity parties from time to time).  Rewallpaper your mind with something you can hold on to.  By you changing your thought pattern, that will be the most important and valuable lesson for your son!!

Whenever I’m on a downward slope, I rewallpaper my mind will Bible verses.  Especially Romans 8:28 God uses ALL things (even CAH) for the good of those who love him.