Christmas is work. It is stress. We usually take the whole month of December off in our homeschool just so I can handle the shopping, wrapping, decorating, and most of all: the baking. My family’s favorites: Norwegian lefse, mocha truffles, peppermint bark, and sugar cookies delicately frosted with fine tips to resemble snowflakes. We combat the stress by blasting loud Christmas music while we do it all.
This is the year is different. It’s the first Christmas since we became aware of my 10 year old’s food issues connected with his auto-immune disease.
It’s a lot to figure out. Do I make all of the regular favorite treats, and make him allergen-free Christmas cookies, or just have him go without? Do we all join in with his food restrictions, like one mass withholding, or do I try to make his food as delicious and tempting as I can? Of course, then one of my 4 non-allergy kids wants some of his, and I’ll explain that his food costs 3 times what the rest of ours costs, and we just can’t afford to all eat his food. I’m attempting to come up with some new, delicious foods that aren’t too expensive that we can all eat. This attempt is incredibly work intensive, requiring sleep-restrictive research. I’m so new at this.
But it’s not tradition. So no one is happy. Because if Christmas is about anything, it’s about tradition.
I want to cheat and give him just one treat. I want to be the Santa Clause of sugar and gluten, and grant his every wish. After all, it’s Christmas. But it doesn’t feel like Christmas this year. It doesn’t feel like grace. It feels like rules and ingredient lists and law. It feels like this stone-carved prescription, that cannot be broken, and hovers over me. I feel it’s weight. This isn’t like he’s trying to lose a few pounds, or he probably shouldn’t indulge. It’s that he can’t.
I don’t think I can do this, and yet, apparently Failure is not an option.
Read the rest of what I wrote over at The Better Mom: Growing Better Together where I am guest posting today.
Heather Krupa says
December 5, 2015 at 12:51 pmYes, food allergies are hard! Just last night we were out and I forgot to bring dessert for Katie and had to run to Walgreens for Skittles. With the holidays, we have found that we just need to make new foods instead of replacing. For us, Katie has always eaten different so everyone else accepts that. When I find a good dessert, I make a whole batch and freeze it for her.
I know it is hard. It kind of takes the fun out of trying new recipes because you are always thinking of how to convert them. We do look for simpler meals and vegan meal. Thank goodness for the Internet, but day to day it still is hard. It takes a while to find your footing but one day you will not be as overwhelmed. Try to make finding new recipes that David likes a mystery to solve! Get him involved in the hunt and the cooking.
We made a list of all the foods she could (and would) eat just to encourage ourselves.
HUGS! Hang in there. I’m praying for grace in your family and flexibility with traditions. – Heather
Kristin says
December 5, 2015 at 3:17 pmMy husband and I have been doing the Trim Healthy Mama plan for a few months now and I wonder if many of the recipes we’re eating could be some that David could eat? Can he have non-sugar sweeteners? We’ve cut out sugar and use all-natural Stevia and Stevia blends now. Can he have non-wheat flours? We no longer use wheat flour but use almond flour, coconut flour, oat fiber, flax, and blends of all of them.
I bought the Trim Healthy Mama cookbook which includes recipes for all kinds of meals, snacks, desserts, condiments, you name it. And all of them are sugar free and gluten free. I was just looking in it now and there are cookies and brownies that might work well for David’s dietary restrictions – double peanut fudge swirl brownies, no-bake cookies, peanut gems, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate moisties, to name a few. There are also recipes for candies, truffles, and bars.
We love this new way of eating and are losing weight on this plan, but I modify the meals for our children who don’t need to lose weight.
Nicky Gray says
December 10, 2015 at 7:13 pmChildren are adaptable. They are also easy going. To them, Christmas is new and exciting no matter what foods they eat.
As adults we associate certain foods with Christmas..because thats what we had as children. Our children do not have to have those same treats we had.
Make your treats to accomodate your little person, the others can have a variation on them. They shouldnt miss out on treats because they have intolerances. They just need simple foods that can become their tradition.
My daughter ( 35 ) is Gluten free , and she makes wonderful variations on foods so her children are eating much the same as she is, with the gluten in their food.
It takes a bit of consideration, but it can be done.
Do not let this get you down. Your child would hate to think they are the cause of your unease. Relax…start new traditons around Christmas food.