In honor of Mother’s Day, I thought I’d have Mrs. Dude handle the blogging duties today and give the scoop of what it’s truly like living with a celiac.
Oh, and by the way, the outfits in the picture above are from last Halloween, not from a night when the kids were out. We have totally different costumes for those nights 😉
Mrs. Dude, take it away.
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I never thought I would hear myself say “DON’T KISS ME. I JUST ATE A BAGEL!”
I never thought I would worry about what color sponge my kids use (on that rare occasion when they wash the dishes.)
I never thought that once my kids outgrew the diaper bag years, I’d have to pack one for my husband (for food…not diapers).
I never thought I would be the hostess that would tackle my guests before they reached into the icemaker without using the scooper.
I never thought I’d use the word “contaminate” so much.
I never thought I would spend so much time hating a tiny little protein that you can’t even see but still makes Gluten Boy sick!
I never thought I’d have to dissect the previous nine meals we ate when he doesn’t feel well.
I never thought I would become the supermarket whore that I have become. I bop from one to another without looking back!
I never thought we would be the ones that food servers cringe at.
I never thought I would need my reading glasses to food shop!
I never thought Google would become such an imperative ingredient in my cooking.
I never thought I’d get so mad when the Dude emptied the dishwasher this week and put “his” cutting board in the girl’s bread drawer.
I never thought I’d have to worry about the dogs licking his face (our dogs are NOT gluten free).
I never thought I’d be married to someone with the nickname “Dude”.
I never thought I would come to respect a group of people I have never met as much as I respect the celiac community.
I never thought I would say this, but my gluten boy has really turned into Gluten Dude. I love what his voice/rants have added to the celiac community. He is passionate about everything in life (which can be exhausting…good thing he doesn’t have a blog about politics!!)
Happy Mother’s Day everyone!
Never thought, gee I hear myself saying that a lot lately; never thought most of what you never thought too. I’ve just been diagnosed and am just getting used to all those “Never thoughts”
Hang in there Adrianne. Time and knowledge definitely help. We are here if you need us…
thanks mrs. dude, you just described my wife also, i wouldn’t be able to deal with this disease with out her. and with mothers day on sunday i say THANK YOU the all the mothers, wives and girlfriends
Support and appreciation is a terrific combination!
Oh thank you; good points. My husband doesn’t complain that our house is gluten free ( so much easier ) and he knows how it feels to want the bread served at dinner when out because he refuses to eat it now because I can’t have it. It really opened his eyes to choose to be gluten free in public to see what it felt like to not be able to eat what others do at social functions etc. He’s a doll, but our house is gluten free and anyone to comes to visit has to eat gfree and is not allowed to have their gluten food in the house. Sick is no fun and only takes 1 bite. Again thanks mrs dude for your post and love your hair cut!
Sounds like you have one terrific guy!
You are so lucky to have such a wonderful and supportive partner in crime! Adjusting to the gluten free lifestyle is no easy task, and having someone so willing to go that extra mile to be sure their loved one is safe is inspiring! I hope to be so lucky one day! You guys ROCK!
When you love someone, it’s just what you do.
I bet you never thought your nickname would be Mrs. Dude either! 😉 you two are awesome.
Oh my goodness no!!!! I guess I have been called worse 😉
I remember when I was first diagnosed my Mum complaining how she had to take her glasses to the supermarket and the shopping took her twice as long!
I’m with your mom! It takes forever!!
Maybe you should change your names to GF Bat Dude and Bat Dudette. Love the photo and your list of “Never Thought I’d” do…
Life is interesting, isn’t it? You married “for better or worse, gluten or not” and it looks like you’re doing a great job integrating it all.
In my house, I’m the one who can’t have a crumb, but I’m also the one who controls all the food, so it’s pretty easy. My husband is GF (and mostly vegan) in our house by default. He has no choice as I’m the food wrangler and chef. Of course, when he says he has to run to the post office or go get a haircut, I’ve learned those trips often include a burger on a bun and some ice cream. =) Meat, gluten, and dairy. Ugh…
Here’s to super heroes!
GF Xena, Warrior Princess
GF Xena, Warrior Princess… I love it!!!
OK … the other morning I had tears dripping in my coffee after reading darling Dudette’s “life with a gluten-dad” story and now I practically spit out my coffee all over the computer screen, because I was laughing out loud reading Mrs. Dude’s post … i really need to read your posts AFTER I’ve had my coffee! Thanks Dude family for sharing your gluten-free story with all of us who can totally relate. p.s. Mrs. Dude you just gave some great tips for keeping a household gluten-free, Dude should make a category for that :). Happy Mother’s Day!
Thanks Paula!
Excellent post! I can relate to this and I know my hubby can relate to it as well. (I am the gluten-free one and he cooks a lot)
What a great support you are to Dude! Thanks for sharing.:)
That’s so nice that hubby cooks a lot!! Maybe the Dude should take notes…
What a great post! My husband will be posting his thoughts on living with me sometime this month. Thankful for supportive spouses like you and him!! And thankful for the voice of Gluten Dude 🙂
I LOVE YOUR BLOG!!!!!!!
You are amazing Mrs. Dude!!!!! I luv ya!!!!!! You are the model of what love should be! Fully accepting!
Awww….I’m blushing. Thanks <3
This brought tears to my eyes, Mrs. Dude. Spouses and families of celiacs endure as much as the celiacs themselves. We wouldn’t be here without all of you. Love, love, love the intro. My husband says similar on a daily basis. 🙂
I’ve said it before, when he is glutened, we all get glutened 🙁
…reading glasses? I have to carry a maginifying glass.
LOL!!!
You are LUCKY to have support! I have been gluten free for a year, My husband has seen me thru it all. And he knows or I thought he should know by now that pasta is out, unless gluten free of course. The other night he came home with dinner for me. A big non Gluten pasta and shrimp dinner!!! Really!! So to all of you out there who have great support, be VERY thankful!! It’s upsetting when you don’t have someone who understands or doesn’t pay attention! Maybe for Mother’s Day I will get a bag of bagels as well LOL! As long as they are GLUTEN free I will be happy!
Sounds like a frustrating situation Dawn! Hubby needs to do some reading about celiac and open his eyes! I’m sorry you are not getting the support you need and deserve. I hope on Mother’s Day you get a huge bag of gluten free bagels. If they are not gluten free, hit him over the head with them! 😉
BTW love Mr. and Mrs Dude and the Wonderful site :-))) Thank You for sharing!! I really enjoyed reading this!!
Thank you Dawn!11
Nice work batman/batwoman!
Having a supportive other half is so important when you’re dealing with something as big as celiac.
I couldn’t do what I do without the support of my amazing husband (I may have to start calling him Mr Gluten Free Traveller?!) and I can only wish that everyone find someone who is as supportive! 🙂
Also, I feel as though your security questions are getting progressively more difficult 🙂
I love hearing that your husband is so supportive! He definitely earned himself a nickname!
I’m with you about the security questions. If he moves on to algebra, I’m outta here!
Wonderful article Mrs. Dude! You said it all so well!
Thanks Tracey!
Mrs. Dude has been out and about all day. She’s read your comments but hasn’t had the chance to thank you and to reply. So for now, I’ll do the honors.
THANK YOU!
A support system is the most important system in the world. Yes…even more important than your digestive system 🙂
Happy Mother’s Day to everyone!
This is an absolutely great and hilarious post! It truly embodies what i means for our loved ones, family and friends to have learn to live with Celiacs. I found my family nodding in agreement along as I read the list out loud. So great.
Alaine, that is so nice to hear! Thx!
For me it’s my two GF “babies” (15 and 18), but I can relate to so much and it’s nice in a sad sort of way to hear of someone else with the same “how did I get here?” feeling. I literally have a panic attack when I forget my glasses at the grocery store. And I get tears in my eyes (crazy right?) when I find a product in a GF version that my kiddos have been doing without.
Shortly after diagnosis, my daughter sat in our living room with her first boyfriend and 3 of his friends all eating GF brownies my husband and I looked at each other and said… “6 months ago did you ever think…?”
I feel like this blog has helped me just as much as the Dude. Before Gluten Dude, we felt isolated in this disease. It is amazing how much support this community has been for us.
I know the joy when you find a substitute gluten free product! I have made many phone calls to the Dude from the market! 😀
Mrs. Dude – Kudos for your great support of your spouse. I think having a supportive spouse/family is KEY to being able to navigate this strict gluten-free diet.
I was wondering if you might answer why you haven’t made your whole household gluten-free? I know it was something I struggled with for a while, and we tried the “divided kitchen” route for a while with separate everything. However I (the celiac) would still get glutened, also it was soo much work! Making our whole household gluten-free has been so much easier for everyone in the house. My hubby much prefers it as he doesn’t have to worry about any cross-contamination. My kids don’t miss the gluten, hubby doesn’t miss it, it is just easier for us. Just curious your take on this, and am really not trying to be critical or anything!
I definitely understand your point. It is easier for me to have the kitchen divided. The Dude has his own silverware drawer, pots, pans, toaster, counter space, and sponge in the kitchen. It has been that way for 6 years and that’s the way I have been trained. In the beginning I was overwhelmed and cried in my kitchen! I now feel like it’s second nature. 99% of our family dinners are gluten free.
I know! I think at first, like any diet change, you can only think of all the things you can’t eat! It is easier to make the dinners all gluten-free, like you said! So glad that is working out well for you! Again, your hubby is blessed to have your support!
Thank you for this post. My spouse was recently diagnosed with celiac disease (2 years ago). It has been difficult and it changes your life. I can relate to everything you said. Sometimes my wife gets so sick, but we cannot figure what was the cause. We think we are being so careful. It is so frustrating to be so careful and change so many things and she still gets sick. I would like to see more support for the spouses…It is so hard watching the one you love suffer from an “invisible enemy”.
I can speak for Mrs. Dude here when I say that she hates it just as much as I do.
God I love ALL of your posts! The “Dudes” rock!
Thanks Louise!
You rock Mrs. Dude!! I was diagnosed 3 days ago and my boyfriend (we live together) has been as supportive and helpful as you are, and that is helping me a lot to go through this so many changes. I never thought I’d be so lucky to have such a supportive person next to me 🙂
I never thought I would be participating in this kind of blogs… and I’m habsolutely happy that I found it.
Please don’t ever take this post down!
I’m an English teacher married to a gluten-free husband. Here’s my contribution:
I never thought gluten would become a verb, as in: “Robert got glutened at work today from co-workers with donuts.”
I will say, though, that I am so glad he was finally diagnosed. Life with Mr. Grouchy N. Tired was not much fun. Now he’s more like the man I married.