Ep 234 September 2022 Roundup
Let’s start the blog with the show notes for this Episode –
The beginning of September means I have the opportunity to chat with my friend Ellen Bayens of theceliacscene.com. On this episode we talk about strategies for parents and teachers to be on the same page about the celiac student and their needs during the school year. Ellen has some great suggestions. We also talk briefly about a student exchange program and the person in charge of the special diet requirements. I hope to speak with her about this interesting topic on a separate podcast very soon. In science news, researchers have come up with a tool to help doctors determine the risk of celiac disease to some of their youngest patients, and it turns out the gut microbiome has lots more to tell us, and this time it’s about the very specific differences in the small intestine, depending on where the same of the microbiome was taken from. These advances in science will hopefully mesh together to allow for a better diagnosis rate in the future.
Ellen and I talk about some of my recent podcasts including the story telling author Ann Campanella in her book Celiac Mom (https://bit.ly/Ep233CeliacMom). Ellen also comes clean about her interest in my co-host Arron’s ongoing journey after bariatric surgery.
Seasons are changing and Ellen fills us in on where the food trucks go, as the weather gets colder.
Here are the links to Ellen’s articles –
What to Tell the Teacher About Your Gluten-Free Child
Are We Close to Predicting the Onset of Celiac Disease in Children?
Have You Thought About Hosting an International Exchange Student?
Small Intestinal Microbiome: An Understudied Ecosystem in Celiac Disease
Aaron’s Recovery Hampered by Heat
Sue’s Websites and Social Media –
Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com
Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com
Email – acdnceliacpodcast@gmail.com
Celiac Kid Stuff – https://www.celiackidstuff.com
Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com
Instagram – @suesgfbaking
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL
Email – sue@suesglutenfreebaking.com
Other Podcast – Gluten Free Weigh In – https://glutenfreeweighin.libsyn.com
My Thoughts –
I’ve said it before, and I’m happy to say it again – the gluten free diet is hard. I think one of the hardest parts is sending your celiac child off to school with a new class, and a new teacher.
Ellen and I have tried to suggest some strategies for setting up a safe scenario for a child at school. The fact is, every situation is different, every teacher is different, every celiac child is different, and every supportive family is different. Given those variables, it’s no wonder there is lots of advice out there. In addition to the advice, a family needs a strategy.
By strategy, I mean a plan with lots of options to pivot. I’ve worked with many different families and the question of school always comes up. During the podcast, I mentioned my top strategy is involving the child in discussions with the teacher. My next suggestion would be, to be flexible. You may have in your mind exactly what you want or need to say to the teacher, but until you have that conversation, you won’t know how your requests will be accepted. Our thoughts and actions are all formed from our past experiences, and until you make a connection with the teacher, you won’t really know how to get through to him or her.
Stay calm, and be ready to pivot. You can’t assume that celiac disease is new to the teacher. You might have to change from a teaching moment to a sharing moment. Ellen had a good point by saying that as a parent you will be expected to do your part to make this a successful school year. As much as we’d like to think that one conversation and the odd check-in is going to make things run smoothly – it just might – but, as a parent, one thing I’ve learned is just when I think I can predict my child’s behaviour, she surprised me.
The school situation is difficult, there are plenty of variables to make every family’s experience different. Do your best, and remember every September is a new opportunity to learn more about your child and how they are dealing with celiac disease, their teacher, and their classmates.
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