Grandparents And Celiacs

[Guest Zmom]

Anyone else have to deal with grandparents who refuse to wash their hands after eating gluten?

Even after my Doctor wrote them a letter? Even when their Grandson asks. They think we are exaggerating and his Grandmother even Grabbed and held my son's hand after eating a piece of bread when he asked her to wash her hands. totally frustrated. Any suggestions?

[KaitiUSA]

How rude(if it is on purpose)....I can't believe they would not follow something to help their grandson. This may make them mad but personally I would say..."This can make him very sick and if you can not respect that, as much as we hate to do this, then we will not be allowing him over anymore."

At this point they are blowing it off like its nothing. If they realize that this is serious and if they don't follow it then they won't get to see him then hopefully they would change.

This is just my opinion...there are other ways you could approach it.

[Guest nini]

Shoot, I have a HUSBAND that forgets to do that...

as far as grandparents go... that's a whole "nuther" can of worms... I don't think they do it intentionally, but they def. expose my daughter to gluten by some of their actions... My mom's house is SOOOOO Not gluten free, even though I've stocked her up with safe snacks and such, they still have an abundance of gluten laden goodies laying around and they will munch them, not wash hands OR MOUTH and will hug and kiss her all the time I'm just wigging the entire time. I feel like I can't relax.

[Guest taweavmo3]

My parents were alot like that, unitl Emmie got really sick a few weeks ago. They never intentionally gave her gluten or anything, they just didn't understand the seriousness of it. If Emmie broke out in hives or had trouble breathing, it would be easier for them to "get" I think.

Last time Em's spent the night, the next day she was very lethargic, was crying/screaming all day, and wouldn't eat. This lasted for nearly two weeks. So, now they totally get it. They are so good now......she spent the night again last weekend and my parents made a special trip to the store to load up on gluten-free goodies before their outing.

I don't know what I would do if my parents actually refused to comply with washing of their hands.........I guess I'd have to tell them that my kids couldn't come over until they took the disease for the seriousness that it is. My parents didn't do anything intentional, they really just didn't know or they would forget. As hard as it was seeing Emmie so sick, at least it opened my parents eyes to the disease and how much havoc it can cause on such a little body. That was really the only thing that worked.

[wclemens]

Okay guys, listen to this...I am Dakota's 60 year old grandma, and it was I who sent away for the $378 spectrum of tests which identified that Dakota has gluten intolerance and allergies to milk and dairy. It was I who spent his first 11 months of life as his primary daycare provider, watching like a guard-dog to make sure he stayed on his diet. Then at 1 year of age his parents put him into preschool and stopped his special diet after a Kaiser doctor gave him a blood test and said he didn't have Celiac. Now I'm keeping him again 1-2 days a week, and can't help but feed him gluten-free, milk and dairy-free foods (I have had the same intolerances since the age of 8).

I am once again creating special foods for Dakota and even leaving them in special containers in the refrigerator at his family's home. I know that no one else in the family realizes that Dakota's eating forbidden foods can have truly drastic effects, but since my symptoms are asthma and wheezing when I eat those foods, they realize that I must stick to my special diet.

It is a day-by-day journey. We must do what we can, no matter how big or small, and these family members are looking ultimately to us for patience, steadfastness, understanding and TOLERANCE. Lord help us to be the examples we can be! I am so glad you are all there. Welda Lou