Honest to Pete, y'all. If I had a nickel for every time a pediatrician, teacher, fellow mom or even family member looked at me like I had 4 heads, I'd be the bread winner in this family. Why would they do that (you're probably wondering because I'm so beautiful... oh stop). Because I explain to them, plead with them, inquire, request, beg, discuss (name it) our ongoing battles and journey with gluten. Sure, I think by now everyone can understand why I choose not to eat it. It will kill me. Understandable, totally maybe. But why on earth would I put my children, those precious, innocent girls through such a limited diet of deprivation!? Why? I might as well lock them up in a cold, damp dungeon and throw rice at them 3 times a day while cackling and poking their hungry bellies.
Listen to me, I prayed the second I got pregnant with the first child that I would never pass on my medical problems. I know the chances of Celiac Disease being sent down genetically and the continued mystery of where *I* got it haunts me as I am the only one in my family to be diagnosed and confirmed with it. Yet, I know I got it from someone! And no one in my family will go and get tested! (I think I just grew hair on my back typing that out. Maybe that's another side effect of Celiac... we turn into werewolves when we're angry, which might explain the increasing werewolf population in the US). So here I am, unaware of WHO sent down those CD genes to me; my mom? Dad? Both? And what siblings might have it? I could wager a strong bet on one of them. But I don't know! And I happen to be the only one in my family having children, which means I am passing on the genetic marker for this disease and I HAVE to investigate and stay in tune to this. I will follow it and haunt my kids until they are 50 if I have to.
I'll tell you what, though. Being overly cautious and suspicious is not crazy. I spent my entire life sick. In and out of hospitals, anxious, depressed, confused, out of energy, lacking sleep due to insomnia, missing school because I had at least 1 bad migraine a week not to mention infections that would spread and no one could tell me what was wrong other than I was weak or sensitive or whiney. I can't let that happen to my kids; they need to live a normal life. They should thrive in school, be with friends. My 5 year old is already have regular headaches and painful bowel movements as well as anxiety and trouble sleeping and the 2 year old has had chronic ear infections with 2 tube surgeries and 1 surgery to remove adenoids and has had a distended belly since she began solids.
Why would anyone question me as to my intentions in providing them a gluten free life? They do better on a gluten free diet? Whether they medically need it or not, they feel and look BETTER. Statistically, if they do not have Celiac Disease there is such a high risk and chance that they have at least a gluten intolerance (lower grade reaction) or wheat allergy simply because they came from me and I breastfed them.
I wish that I were a scientist and could explain it all in graphs, charts and everyone would say "OH!" and that figures. I would never make my family eat gluten free simply to be mean or deprive them. But I see a clear, tangible difference in both of my kids when I do. Sometimes I feel that my husband would benefit from a gluten free lifestyle but I know he would NEVER do it. It took him 8 years to agree to having a gluten free house! He is very supportive but the man loves his carbs.
Hopefully people will begin to understand that this isn't a "fad" and respect those who eat gluten free just like you would a vegetarian or vegan. Whether it's because you have to due to Celiac Disease or because you choose to; we're not crazy for taking a journey into better health.
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