It’s All About the Stories We Tell: Rethinking Your Celiac Story During the Holidays (and beyond!)

When our daughter Edyth was diagnosed with celiac disease at age 9, my husband and I fell into a familiar story: “Poor kid. This is going to make everything harder.” It was an understandable story. We were worried about school, birthday parties, travel, and of course all the food-centered holidays like Thanksgiving. Would she ever feel normal? Safe? Included?

But what a different story a decade has told! Edyth has made it through the challenges of middle school, high school, and college--and she's now flourishing as a first-year medical student. She is healthy, active, and surrounded by friends who love her. She also throws amazing dinner parties—usually 100% gluten-free, and the guests don’t even notice!

Same diagnosis. Same basic set of rules. But oh, how the story has changed. So during this holiday season, consider this idea: How we and our kids experience celiac has much to do with the stories we tell!

Here, a few ways to rethink your child's celiac story through the festivities and beyond:

1. Draft Your Own Holiday Story.

Around the holidays, it’s easy to slip into the tale of “Everyone else gets to…”: everyone else can just show up; everyone else can eat whatever they want; we’re the "different" ones causing inconvenience. I’ve told that story. But trust me; it never helped.

A better story sounds like this: “We’re planners. We’re prepared. We know how to keep our child safe and included.” And that version relies on choices you make before the event. You walk yourself through events—school parties, buffets, dessert tables—and spot the risky moments. You (and, when possible, your child) reaches out to hosts or teachers to chat about plans and menus. As a rule, offer to bring a few hearty, delicious gluten-free dishes so that your child always has a sure thing available.

And if you’re hosting, consider making the whole meal gluten-free. These days, it's pretty easy to manage! (You can always designate a small “contraband corner” for gluten-containing items brought by others... no harm, no foul.) And when your child watches others happily eating the items you made and brought to another's table, a new story will emerge: “My food is normal. My food is good. I belong here!”

2. Let Your Kitchen Spin a Happy Tale!

Our family had a saying that became one of our best story-shifters: If you can’t take it, make it! Whenever Edyth saw something yummy--but unsafe--that she wanted to try, whether a cake pop, a fancy cookie, or a savory dish, we added it to our "try to make it" list. Each week, we picked something from that list and set out to create a gluten-free version of our own.

Did they always look like the original? Absolutely not. Our cake pops, for instance, ended up square, soggy, and wilting off the stick. Even so, we laughed and ate them with spoons--and they were still quite tasty! More importantly, this practice invited a new and lasting story: “I’m not helpless. I can make almost anything I've seen at a party or a store. Being gluten-free feeds my creativity!” Such thinking, over days and years, helped shape our daughter's worldview. She's fearless in the way she handles challenges--be they food-related or otherwise.

3. Remember: Our Stories Determine Who We Are.

Celiac doesn’t just change what’s on your child’s plate. It can change how they see themselves. At first, WE were the narrators of Edyth’s story. We spoke to teachers, camp counselors, and dance instructors. We explained cross-contamination and ingredients. But as she got older, we started handing her the pen. Could she order safely at a restaurant? Explain her needs to a friend’s parent? Speak up when something didn’t feel right?

Another tip: Let your child in on the mystery! We never hid the science... we made it fun! We showed Edyth diagrams, framed blood-draws as adventures (liquid information!), explored the latest research together, and treated her celiac as something fascinating, rather than broken.

It wasn’t instant, but she eventually began to write her own new tale. Little by little, the plot shifted from “My parents handle this” to “I can take care of myself.” Her growing self-advocacy spilled into other parts of her life, too—from friendships to school to choices about health and safety. Celiac gave her a built-in reason to always listen to and honor her body's best interests.

It also shaped her future in a very literal way. The once-frail, growth-delayed nine-year-old became a healthy, athletic young woman who, on her own, took a job in a celiac research lab (no coincidence!) during a high school summer break. From there, she decided to pursue science in college and, eventually, to set her sights on becoming a doctor.

The new story? “My condition opened doors for me--it helped me become resilient, curious, and driven. It kept my priorities on things that matter!”

Quite a shift from the original "Poor me," don't you think?

It's Your Pen, Your Ink, Your Turn to Write...

True, this time of year can be tough for gluten-free families. But this time, as you plan, cook, pack, and double-check, remember a simple truth: What we bring to the table of life matters far more than what’s being served at any buffet.

We don’t always get to choose the situations or characters in our story, but we do get to decide how we will work with what we've been given. YOU can help shape your child's celiac story by imagining--and writing--that happy ending. Together.

And so it shall be.

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The author's books, The Gluten-Free Parent’s Survival Guide and The Gluten-Free Teen’s Survival Guide, were reviewed and are recommended by celiac physicians at Colorado Children's Hospital. Her articles and interviews have appeared in Gluten-Free Living, Whole Foods Magazine, Allergic Living, and numerous other GF sites and publications. The Gluten-Free Parent also has been a featured presenter at celiac awareness events and has taught cooking and informational courses for parents and children. Her new project, an informational coloring book for children with celiac disease, will be available in early 2026. For more information, visit https://www.glutenfreeparent.com or contact elynjoy@glutenfreeparent.com.