Family Get Togethers

[Firegirl43]

It is getting to the point that I really hate family get togethers,. Thanksgiving we all went to my cousins house, I had my own food, But I felt like I stuck out. My food had to be microwaved and was on a seperate plate from everyone else. Everyone there kept makeing a big deal about it, asking me well well cant you have some of the cheese( which was covered in bread crumbs) or the fruit . I dont think anyone really understands, I mean a few people try but I know some of my family think that I am gluten-free by choice. To be honest I really dont care if I go to another family thing. All I do is feel way too diffrent ( I know thats not a bad thing) way too segregated.

[MaryJones2]

I do know how you feel. I've been at this a few years and have a very large family that gets together a few times a year. I bring my own food too and prefer to do so. I am just there to have a good time and enjoy the company but occasionally the conversation turns to my diet or my food and before I (or my husband) can successfully change the subject someone makes some offhanded comment. I try to take it all in stride but sometimes it's a little difficult.

[Tamradee]

Hi, I avoided Thanksgiving all together this year. I get sick just smelling other people's food . Of course, I proceeded to make an entire feast for my family - I have to avoid gluten, sulfites and msg - that was 100% safe for me and my daughter (and the whole family) to eat. It's not THAT difficult - I just wish that the rest of the family would make an effort!!!

I will do Christmas with the extended family this year - but will bring lots of goodies for me & my daughter so that we are not tempted to *try* something and be sick for the entire day. Of course, I'm sure we'll be sick anyway - it just seems unavoidable. Inevitably someone will attempt to talk me into trying something and I'll suffer from temporary amnesia and not remember all the things I can't eat and I'll cave in, eat and commence suffering!!!!!

[sickchick]

You know what I do?

I eat @ my apartment then I go and run around and visit my family.

I find it works for me.

Be well and BE PATIENT WITH YOURSELF

lovelove

[Lori T.]

It is getting to the point that I really hate family get togethers,. Thanksgiving we all went to my cousins house, I had my own food, But I felt like I stuck out. My food had to be microwaved and was on a seperate plate from everyone else. Everyone there kept makeing a big deal about it, asking me well well cant you have some of the cheese( which was covered in bread crumbs) or the fruit . I dont think anyone really understands, I mean a few people try but I know some of my family think that I am gluten-free by choice. To be honest I really dont care if I go to another family thing. All I do is feel way too diffrent ( I know thats not a bad thing) way too segregated.

know how you feel. Diagnosed X2 yrs and still get question after question, which is not so bad, but then I get the ever helpful "but I am sure a little taste won't kill you". Oh, yeah, it will!! At least it will feel that way. Usually understanding family members who just choose to ignore my problems for theirs, become the ever knowledgable ones during times with friends and outside guests around. I get "she can't try that. She's on that gluten diet thing" or "She has some kind of an allergy.What is it that you can't eat Lori??" Explanations turn into people staring blankly at me. I feel like just saying I am Gluten intolerant should do it but then they persue the issue and I further explain. Then they slowly start to walk away like I am a leper. And I know what you mean about the food. I always bring my own food for small gatherings or a dish I know I can eat but that anyone else could too. Now that everyone knows, the first thing I get asked at a party is "Is that one of those Gluten Free things that you made?". If I say "Yes", they hesitate and will not try it. Have even brought standard Spinach Dip_

Spinach,Artichokes,cream cheese, mayo, parmesan and pepper and bake it-and no one would try it thinking I guess that it will taste funny. Even after I tell how simple/normal the recipe is. People are funny. If it were them, maybe they would not want anyone to know and keep it inside. I feel as if I need to connect with other people. Food issues are just one piece of who I am. I just refuse to sit in the corner. Even though I feel like the only human who is gluten-free sometimes, I still refuse to let others ignorance dictate my social life. REAL friends don't stare, make comments or leave you out of the loop. One thing about gluten-free life, you find out who the REAL friends are!!!

[ang1e0251]

I think if we want to be social, we just have to put up with the ignorance and cut non-celiacs some slack. After all, I have a friend 15 yrs celiac and I thought I knew the basics. What I knew could fit on the head of a pin compared to what I've learned this past year while I was on the diet. And there is so much more to learn! We really can't expect those who have never had this disease to know where we're coming from. You wouldn't be angry at a child who asked a question about a subject that they knew nothing about. Don't expect others to know about your condition.

I do wish my family had higher standards and tried harder to educate themselves but I see that most families written about on the forum are just like mine. My sister is diabetic and if I'm with her I just ask her my diabetic q's. I'm sure she feels the same with me. It's just easier to ask me. I don't want to feel like an outsider or frustrated with my family over this. I have chosen to let it go and take care of myself.

I can't tell you how to feel but I will say that I found it incredibally liberating and a big load off my shoulders when I chose not to fault others for what they don't know. I refuse to lose my family and friends to this disease!