Want To Start A New Chapter After Graduation!

[Victoria6102]

I'm graduating from high school tomorrow! Yay! Thankfully my parents bought md gluten free food that looks like what everyone else is eating. Which is what I'm trying to work on.

As some of you may know, I have trouble with people understanding/believing me about celiac at my church. Specifically the teens. I got into yet another argument about it with one of these teens the other week. It was awful. She denied ever doing the things we were taking about her doing, right as the adults came over and it made me look really stupid. My best friend offered to talk to this girl and ask her why she gives me such a hard time about celiac. And do you know what the girl said? "because she expresses it too much" I express it too much? My friend asked what that meant. The reply " because she brings her own food and obviously exaggerates." welll I'm still going to bring my own food. I don't express it unless someone asks me why k have my own food and I tell them because I have celiac. And I don't exaggerate (I'm sure you guys get that line too! )but I want to start a new chapter. I've been eating gluten free for a year and a half now and I feel like I'm ready to educate people better than I could before.

I'm going to give it one more try at educating these rude teens about celiac. About why I eat the way I do. About how important it is that I eat this way. My question is....how can I not "express" my celiac as much? Is there a way? I don't talk about unless someone asks me about it. But what can j do different? I'm graduating and want to try one more time over the summer to help these (helpless) teens be more compassionate and understand health problems. Otherwise I will never have another chance as I start college in the fall.

What can I do? My life is SO stressed right now and to have my teen class be understanding would take a lot of stress away. Thanks:)

[dani nero]

Personally I think you should stop caring so much about them and more about yourself. I found out that I'm generally happier and more relaxed when I let go of the need for others to understand and support me. I have hubs who's great, and I don't need anyone who makes life harder or more stressful for me. I'll do what makes me feel well, and others will have to accept it without giving me trouble, because it's how I want to live. They're welcome if they want to be supportive, but I won't sweat over it if they're against anything I do. I think your new chapter should be more about letting go and being "over" their understanding / support. I think you'll be happier if you didn't long for their approval and just live to satisfy your needs Victoria.

That's just what I think anyway.

And congratulations on graduating by the way.

[Victoria6102]

Hmmm I guess that makes a lot of sense!

Thanks:)

[sa1937]

Congrats on your graduation, Victoria!

I think teens can be so insensitive at times...actually downright cruel at other times. I have two teenage granddaughters even though they are younger than you but I've already heard a few stories.

I guess there are insensitive people of all ages. But I definitely think it'll be easier when you get a bit older. Personally I don't give a rat's behind what people may think of me or my diet.

[mamaw]

congrats & Dani Nero is correct.. Some people just don't care enough to learn , don't waste your time...

[Skylark]

congrats & Dani Nero is correct.. Some people just don't care enough to learn , don't waste your time...

Your compassion is wonderful and you are right to feel sorry for these kids. They are creating bad karma in their lives and it will catch up to them eventually. You can't do much about it right now, but they will eventually get put in a situation where they will need to rely on compassion from others and get a chance to learn. Some will learn, some won't.