Wish Us Luck (Nothing Too Serious)

[AGH2010]

This may seem silly but I'm feeling very anxious because we're going to a close friend's last minute birthday celebration. It will be the first time my almost 3 year old confronts eating different cake from her friends. I had time to run over to the store and get a ready made gluten-free cupcake. And luckily I have frosting left over from a cake I made for Thanksgiving. Hopefully she won't mind that her cupcake looks different. I tried mentioning beforehand but it backfired, she told me she wanted a cupcake just like the birthday boy's. I'm hoping once she's in the moment she'll be happy enough w hers.

I'm sort for rambling. Just felt like the only people who might be able to relate to my anxiety would be you all. I know this will be the first of many birthday parties. And I can't help but feel sad for my daughter. But I will try to stay positive for her sake!

Thanks for listening...

[mushroom]

Good luck. Hope the cupcake is well accepted. Tell her how special it is, everyone has to eat those other ones but she gets the special opportunity of eating this yummy one.

[Mayasmum]

Good luck, this is the part I worry about as well, hugs

[Celiac Mindwarp]

We do this for my son who is nut rather than gluten-free (so far, another story) and we just make sure it is something he thinks of as a treat (frosting, candy pieces etc). Been doing it a couple of years and always been fine, with an occasional sad look.

I also take a few chocolate and candy treats in my purse to swap if there are prizes etc.

My friend whose son is celiac packs him a whole little cardboard party box (sort you might get a children's meal) and that works for them.

It is normal to be concerned. I still feel a bit sad sometimes, but actually he is fine

[Cara in Boston]

It will all be fine and it does get easier.

I did the same for my son (5 years old at diagnosis) . . . including making whatever they were serving (pizza, hot dogs, etc.) in advance and bringing it. We kept a pack of 4 frozen gluten-free cupcakes from Whole Foods in our freezer to use for parties. After a year, my son finally confessed that he really doesn't like cupcakes (or cake in general) and what he would really love at a party is a snickers bar! Well that made it a whole lot easier and he is happier . . .

Maybe take your daughter shopping for treats. If she picks them out, maybe they will be more special.

Cara

[StephanieL]

and what he would really love at a party is a snickers bar! Well

Till you are at a party with a nut allergic kid

[AGH2010]

Thanks for all the replies, everyone! Happy to report that yesterday went very well. But it probably really helped that all the other kids got mini cupcakes and she got a regular size one -- so if anything, she lucked out. My friend was very thoughtful and used that big cupcake along with two smaller ones as the cake that the birthday boy blew out so that my daughter felt like her cake was just like the others. Oh, and I had packed some pink sprinkles that my daughter loves and she really enjoyed adding that to her cupcake.

We have one more birthday party to go this weekend and two more in mid-Dec. And then all those holiday parties. Hopefully I'll feel better once we've conquered the Christmas season.

I really like the party box idea! I could put her sprinkles jar in it and a few other things to distract her when others are eating their cake. Thanks!

PS: I know that in the grand scheme of things, her not eating the same cake is a minor issue. But it still annoyed me when my friends told me to relax and pointed out that she was fine. It's easy to say when it's not your own kid who is affected!

[StephanieL]

PS: I know that in the grand scheme of things, her not eating the same cake is a minor issue. But it still annoyed me when my friends told me to relax and pointed out that she was fine. It's easy to say when it's not your own kid who is affected!

Yeahhhhh!! That's great.

And people will continue to say stupid things for like....ever I believe I had my sister tell me I was being a helicopter parent when we were at her house. You know, the house where the kids eat everywhere? Things with gluten in them PLUS things my kid has life threatening allergies to. Dumb. Really dumb things. And you will be shocked at people who you would expect to "get it" soooooo don't!

Also, it's fun when the "different" thing is bigger and better than the others Makes it a "See, it's not so bad to be different!" kind of thing! lol

[Celiac Mindwarp]

Glad it went well

Now you can enjoy the next few parties too...

[mamaupupup]

thinking of you!

...and I so appreciate StephanieL's good sense of humor regarding the Snicker's bar!

Yes, and I was told I was "going off the deep end" by a girlfriend when I was trying to avoid cross contamination...I was so upset for a week! Sometimes I get blindsided by a comment like that, especially when it's so unexpected. Just know you are in good company with all of us here!

Keep up the great job!