First Gfcf Christmas -- Gluteny Gifts

[zarfkitty]

I haven't posted in awhile... mostly because we're rockin' and rollin' on our diet and I'm uber-busy. But I really need a gluten-free friend today!

I just received a $40 gift certificate to California Pizza Kitchen as a Christmas present from a mother of a student where I teach. Luckily I didn't have to open in in front of her or the student, I would have no idea what to say!

ALL of my students know that I'm gluten-free because I make them clean up extra after having a gluteny snack (this is high school and they always have some snack to nibble on from home). The kid in question even said he pitied me that I can eat "real" pizza. I guess he isn't the kind of kid that tells his mom everything.

Anyway, $40 is a generous gift and I want to be happy and thankful, but instead I just feel sad and left out. I've already researched my CPK menu options and I can't say it's too exciting (unless anyone has new information to add!). I might re-gift the card after sending a vague but grateful thank you note to the family who sent the gift.

Why CPK?!?!?! Why not PF Chang's? The universe hates me. This is my first Gluten-free Casein-free Christmas and I didn't expect to get so easily bummed out over a stupid gift card...

[jerseyangel]

Who knows why people do the things they do?

Last year, my sister in law and her husband sent us a large box of gourmet-type foods. Lots of nice things, but they know I have Celiac and am intolerant to many foods. There was exactly nothing there I could eat.

What made it particularly odd is that in the 30+ years that I've known them, this was the only year they ever gave us a gift of food. They see that when we've visited in the last couple of years I always bring all of my own food to family gatherings.

We couldn't believe it as we opened everything--my husband (her brother) was angry that they would do this, as we'd always had a good relationship with them.

Anyway, like you, they were not with us when we opened it (thank goodness) so I didn't have to think of anything to say. We actually never mentioned it, and won't--but I know how you feel

[confused]

im so sorry, that has to be hard. Could you have an pizza party for the kids later in the year and use the gift card for them.

I also think their is an website to swap gift cards for a slight fee, i just cant think what it is called off hand.

I know how hard it can be sometimes, my uncle rich made me some cookies and my parents havent told him i cant have gluten anymore, so they didnt want to hurt his feelings. So my parents asked me if it was ok if they brought them, and i told yes it was fine the kids can just eat them. But i just keep looking at them and wanting some so bad, he also made a couple of other gluten treats for us. When i see him next time i will tell him i love that he makes this stuff but i just cant eat it anymore. He really isnt my blood uncle but i still call him uncle. He just lost his sister 2 weeks ago, so my parents didnt have the heart to tell him that i cant eat them anymore.

paula

[Lins]

Aw, jeez, that's no fun! Well, my first thought was to re-gift, so as to get that card out of your sight as quickly as possible. But do you suppose they'd refund you if you went in and asked? Might be more trouble than it's worth but who knows?

I've come to the conclusion that it's not that people are mean, it's just that since they don't live with this (and have to THINK about it as much as we do) they forget. OR they don't really understand it. I actually heard a lady at our support group tell a story where her friend made some cookies and told her she should be able to eat them as long as she took little bites and ate them very slowly... Ah, gotta love those good intentions... I now find myself racing past the table in our lobby at work. There are 4 gift boxes of chocolates out there!!! Fannie Mae even! sob...

Hang in there.

[Offthegrid]

Sorry the gift card reminds you of what you are missing. Maybe what you need right now is an Amy's gluten-free frozen pizza or to make yourself one (or some other goodie) so you realize that there is plenty of good food that you can eat.

I personally would regift the card, or treat the students -- that's a good idea.

I had a co-worker who KNOWS I'm gluten-free. And she gave me regular cookies.

But even when people don't know, and I can't blame them, I get a little sad. We just moved, and we've received a pie, cookies and tea (with gluten in it) from some new neighbors. I thanked them very much and will mention the gluten and other food intolerances to them another time. I know they didn't know, that they meant well, and that it was very nice, but it still makes me a little bit sad.

I want to make my own pie soon, and maybe some gluten-free mufins and gluten-free cookies, too!

[zarfkitty]

Thanks guys. I've realized I have a reason to celebrate: this will be the first Christmas in a very long time that won't cause me to gain 5 "holiday pounds"!

[blueeyedmanda]

Sorry to hear that. Is CPK a chain, like Outback and Carrabbas is the same. Maybe they have another place that might be able to accomodate. I am unsure of this since I have never heard of CPK. Sorry to hear you got this gift.

Amanda

[mamaw]

I Usually get stuff like that alot. I try to remember that it is the thought that counts....They must think highly of you to give such a nice dollar amount gift. I would trade it for another place on the re-gift sites or have a party for the students. I always send a big thank you & don't go into detail because some people just don't understand . If they don't deal with this on a daily basis then it doesn't seem to interest people.

This year I got a food card for another no-no place & I gave it to a family in need..... They were so excited to be able to go out to eat for one night.That made my day.......Giving is what this holiday is about so I'm good with my decision.

I hope you get feeling better about this because I think this family did not mean to make you feel bad....

Give yourself a gift to a place you love & can enjoy......

hope your Christmas is blessed.

mamaw

[happygirl]

There was exactly nothing there I could eat.

Patti, Thats a new favorite quote from you. "exactly nothing."

[LoriG]

I also have had a bad day feeling bummed about food! I have a sister who recently told me she thinks "I take it too far" - ugh! She has it, too, but is in denial. She said that because whenever we get together I have to choose the restaurant and sort of make a big deal about it.

Now we are having people over for Christmas this Friday and people wanted pizza or subs - ok fine. I will have to make something for myself and am trying not to be annoyed, but I am sick of feeling left out. I'm sick of having to eat something bland while everyone else is enjoying whatever. My husband is trying and suggested different things, but we are also trying to make it ease free and simple.

I've been gluten-free 4 months and CF 2 months and only slightly better so it is even harder when I don't feel fantastic living like this. Now in January we will go to the Dells and every year we have gone out for pizza, well, not this year! I'll have to eat salad somewhere. I just tried making a gluten-free gingerbread men recipe and it was terrible. Ugh.

Sorry to vent, but I think reading everyone's posts that we all have moments like this especially with the holidays coming! Thanks for reading.

[stitchy woman]

I am nodding my head in total understanding to all this. This is my first gluten-free-Christmas as well. Tons of cookies and donuts at work. MY MIL is wanting to make crab cakes for Christmas and me to help her, which I will, but then I will have to bring something else to eat. I feel a little left out of all of this, but then again, I had my first gluten-free Thanksgiving and despite dining well on grilled catfish, came home to found I was the same weight, and have lost 2 lbs since then.

I would love to join in the general cookie munching, but keep thinking that it would be better to try a gluten-free version, and by the time I get home, the idea of baking is not as appealing as relaxing. Maybe I will make some stuff this weekend, since it is Christmas after all. And I am grateful for finally learning why I had all my previous tummy troubles, so this may be the best I will have felt in holidays for a long time.

I would either see about getting a refund for the gift cert or regifting it, and thank the family that gave it. They meant well.

Y'all rock. But you know that. :-)

[Phyllis28]

In time, receiving gluten gifts will not bother you. This is from the perspective of gluten free Christmas's. I just say thank you and let my son and husband enjoy the gift.

[NorthernElf]

I'm with Phyllis - *most* of the time it won't bother you & you'll get used to it (and your family will reap the benefits!). At least with pizza they can take it out (bring it home) and maybe you could pick yourself up something gluten-free elsewhere.

No, it's not always easy. I sat in a staff meeting yesterday and they brought in a ton of Xmas goodies - brownies, sandwiches, cookie trays, veggies & dip, and Miss Vickie's potato chips. The chips had wheat maltodextrin on the label and who knows what was in the dip...which left me with plain raw veggies. I went home and ate some of my gluten-free cookies.

Funny thing is no one noticed...I wonder if they just think I'm on a diet or something... ?

[zarfkitty]

Thanks to everyone for your support! This is the best forum I've ever belonged to.

Just for the record! I have been properly taught my manners. The thank you note went out in the mail immediately and I absolutely know the family didn't mean anything by it. I know that $40 is amazingly generous for a teacher gift. I would never, ever ever ever ever express these kinds of emotions to people who don't have celiac. I only needed to whine and cry for a minute in the presence of people who know what it's like.

Maybe in a few years I can just pass the gluten gifts along without even paying them much thought. THIS YEAR, it feels like a cosmic conspiracy trying to make me feel worse. For example, a huge tin of Ghirardelli MILK chocolates arrived in my mailbox today and I'm CF in addition to gluten intolerant.

Our extended family will be cashing in on all these goodies when we go visiting... everyone in my house is Gluten-free Casein-free. (And we'll be left out of the Christmas meal festivities for the first time ever this year too... I saw this coming and made a Gluten-free Casein-free Turkey dinner for Thanksgiving and everyone came to my house so we've already had it "our way" and they get it "their way" once too - a good compromise.)

[skyepie]

I totally sympathize with you! It is a very generous gift and it is unfortunate that you can't use it.

That said - can you re-gift it to a needy family or a food shelf? That would be a wonderful, selfless thing!

Or, you could put it on eBay. I've done that with gc's before. You could probably get almost face value for it! Then you can go somewhere else yummy to eat or buy yourself something special.

[mamaw]

And please remember that not everyone is a baker or a fine cook. If your tired when you get home from work--

treat yourself to some already made gluten-free goodies from one of the gourmet gluten-free bakeries. You deserve a treat now & then too.

I remember my first gluten-free Christmas & my hubby was asking what I wanted,my answer was a dozen crusty rolls from Everybody Eats. He said just buy them but at $ 18.00 a dozen I told him that was a gift to me because I wasn't sharing.... I got my rolls felt like I died & went to gluten-free heaven- it was the very best gift of all.....

Be kind to your self & order a goody. I carry a bag everywhere I go & when an occassion pops up that last minute lets go for coffee & a bake goodie I have mine ready to go. I order my drink & eat my goody with the rest of them......

Hope your holiday is Merry & Bright

mamaw

[pugluver31902]

Oh I am so happy to find this thread! I run a before and after school daycare program, and the parents have been overly generous this year. But grrr... they keep getting me food and gift cards to places I cant go...but the BIGGEST thing that made me mad was my co worker who got a gift card to Chipolte, while I got a gift card to a gluten restraunt. He looks at me and says "I hate Chipolte. You got the good gift card, I go there every morning!" They were the same denomination so I say to him "Great! Do you want to trade?" (He knows I can eat at Chipolte) "Nah he says, I will probaby just re gift it to someone else."

[brendygirl]

Another teacher here!

This year I was lucky- only one food gift (chocolates) that I COULD and DID eat! I got the most expensive gift ever- a $25 gift cert. to Kohl's!! and six more from students I have yet to open-- will tell on my blog after x-mas. (I teach at an at-risk school...my favorite gifts are chocolate and flowers from their gardens and fruit from their trees (in CA) and gift cards and hand-written xmas cards by the students.)

However, here are funny student gifts from years past:

==a fake crushed-velvet dark green dress==girl's size 14 (I have no children-it was for ME- since I didn't wear it, I explained I was too big, but the grandmother of a student who gave it said I look small enough to wear it- I am 5'7"and not skinny )

==a crocheted sweater thing with FEATHERS hanging down the front

==a coffee mug that read "I'd rather be drinking BEER! (the boy's sister gave HER teacher jam....hmmm)

==a large 12" or so clear glass jar FILLED with FLOUR and ingredients to bake cookies w/recipe

(I didn't even TOUCH it-- the thought of getting that close to the culprit just scares me!!)

==When I was a vegetarian I got coupons for IN-N-OUT (they ONLY serve burgers&fries)

==a variety of used stuff- used plastic flowers in plastic vases full of dust, etc.

**I LOVE IT NOW--whenever I get a "soft" package (might be clothing)--I save it to open in front of the office staff so they can all laugh at me and try to get me to try it on.

I have a list of good/bad gifts I put on my blog awhile back....

[georgie]

This year I was lucky- only one food gift (chocolates) that I COULD and DID eat!

Its Christmas here in Australia now - and my gift from my brother and his partner was one tin of biscuits .... with wheat flour , dairy and soy listed as ingredients .... I gave thoughtful and expensive gifts to each of them and I get one tin of biscuits that I can't eat in return... .

[tarnalberry]

We all got a tin of M&M's from our boss for a Christmas present. Quite frankly, from someone who often has trouble relating to his group as a whole, I actually feel proud of him for picking something that the vast majority of his unweildly (sp? ) large group would actually *really like*. But I can't have them (I'm Gluten-free Casein-free - they have dairy) and my husband (who works in the same group) hates chocolate, so we gave them to another coworker.

(What's all the funnier is that I'm the leader of chocolate thursdays. He's not involved enough to know that it's *always* dark chocolate, but he knew it was chocolate! )

[cmom]

I know...it totally stinks and is so frustrating at times. I have had co-workers bring something in to share and say "now, you can have wheat, right?" WHAT?!?!? I've explained it as much as possible without reaching the point of their eyes glazing over, but many of them still just can't comprehend it.