At the risk of sounding like a terrible mother, this summer is kicking my ass.
There, I said it.
Last August I cried when it was time for summer to end and watch my oldest head off to first grade. And throughout the whole school year I wished for summer. I longed for the days of flexible schedules, staying up late, and no (well, less) lunch-packing. But summer’s in full swing now, friends. And we’re not even halfway through.
I call this picture “The Proud Mama”.
Yep, that’s my reflection in the mirror in the back of the dance studio. You can see from the look on my face that pride is literally radiating from my being.
Why am I so proud? You may think it’s because I am responsible for birthing this incredibly adorable ballerina. And, yes, that’s part of it. But what I’m most proud of is the fact that my baby girl is doing this. She is participating in her first dance class – her first independent extra-curricular activity, actually – and I couldn’t be happier for her.
“Is this gluten-free?”
You may remember from reading other posts of mine that, on top of all the other medical “blows” she’s been dealt, my daughter also has Celiac Disease.
Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disorder where the body has a reaction to gluten that damages the small intestine. The damage can lead to a variety of serious health issues.
The only treatment for Celiac is a lifelong gluten-free diet. So since 4 years old, my daughter has not tasted gluten. She has become very aware of her condition and is very conscious about what she eats. Today we went out to dinner, and she reviewed the kids menu with me after we sat. Continue reading