Supportive Family!

[ElizabethN]

I have to brag on my mother in law a bit. I have posted before about so many frustrations with people not being very sensitive about the diet that I thought I should balance it out with a good story.

My MIL is the one who went with me when I traveled to a natural healing center where the doctor first told me about celiac. So she has been there from the beginning, but about 6 months ago we had a huge argument after she told me that she thinks eating gluten free is no big deal and that basically I cause too much of a fuss over it. My husband talked to her about how eating gluten free has affected his life, let alone mine and I think she was able to see that while there are worse conditions to have, the diet is fairly life changing and at times challenging. After that incident she went out to the library and checked out a bunch of books on celiac and all of the gluten free cookbooks she could get her hands on.

Jump to today, I am 37 weeks pregnant and have been planning ahead for what to eat when the baby comes. A month ago she offered to cook some things for us, and so far has made us: lasagna, chicken casserole, chicken noodle soup (with homemade gluten-free noodles!!!), vegetable soup, and zucchini casserole. All gluten free. She put a ton of work into researching the products to use, buying gluten free ingredients and not to mention cooking in this horrible heat!!! All so we would have some safe meals to eat when the baby comes. She has also made me cakes and other goodies for the family get-togethers we have had lately. I wouldn't trust just anyone to bake for me, but I am just blown away by how thoughtful this is and I don't think I could ask for any better support. The fact that someone would go out of their way to research a condition that they don't even have is pretty special in and of itself. It seems to me that most people don't really give anything a second thought until it happens to them so it meant a lot to me that she cared enough to do this.

I just thought I would share a good story because so often those around us are frustrating and it is so nice when someone goes out of their way to make life a little easier...

[blueeyedmanda]

Hi Elizabeth

I have to say my MIL is also very helpful too, and it makes this so much easier. It sounds like yours is very caring and always willing to help. I am happy for you. My MIL makes sure when we are having a dinner/picnic at her home that she has gluten free pasta salads and such. It makes the whole outing so much more comfortable.

[gfgypsyqueen]

That's really great! I'm jealous It's nice to hear when people try so hard to include this diet in their plans for parties and big events like babies! Hope you are feeling well the last few weeks are exhausting

[Miriam3]

This is a really positive thread and is really nice to see. Thanks ElizabethN!

I'll add that my husband has been really great about the diet and making me feel less alone with my high-maintenance food issues. I just came back from a trip and he had taken a trip to the health food store to make sure I wouldn't starve when I came home. He even bought and made an Arrowhead Mill gluten free chocolate chip cookie mix because he knows I miss cookies sometimes I had never tried these before and they were incredible (chewy and better flavor than any of the cookie stores I ever used to stop at in the mall!)

Last night I was feeling down and he remembered my comfort meal always used to be pizza and root beer. He went out and got the root beer and pizza toppings and we put it on an Amy's rice crust pizza. I offered to get him real pizza but he wanted to eat the same as me.

It feels good to have someone who understands. Especially someone who has seen the "before" and doesn't think this is some wacky lifestyle choice.