The Unforeseen Benefits: Part One

 When we first started the transition to the autoimmune protocol and using food as medicine (if I haven’t mentioned that before, that’s essentially what this is: food is medicine) I really, really wondered what this would do to my kids, apart from the whole autoimmune thing. It was something I knew we needed to try in order to save KT from worsening symptoms and more medications but at the same time I was nervous about potential negative consequences. What if it causes them to hate me? What if it causes them to have an unhealthy relationship with food? What if it just causes them to be depressed and isolated? What if doing this as a family causes EC to resent KT? If you are a parent starting out on this, you may be having these same thoughts and doubts. I’m very happy and relieved to be able to tell you, while I think these concerns were only natural, none of them came to pass. In fact, there’s been a lot of unforeseen benefits. So many I’m going to break this post up into part one and part two. Kinda nice to already know what I’ll be writing about tomorrow. Usually I just wing it! I also want to mention, I share all of this with KT and EC’s permission.

My kids still love me…maybe even more

So, I’m really relieved my kids don’t hate me because of this. There was definitely some feelings of sadness and even anger in the first few weeks after starting. From both my kids. I’d like to do a separate post on some of those feelings. For now, I’ll just say yes. I felt like the Wicked Witch of the West telling them we were cutting out grains, dairy, refined sugar, eggs, legumes, seeds, nuts and nightshades (they learned what nightshades are, as did I!). But that didn’t last long. As KT made great gains in her health over the first weeks, it was just obvious to her and EC that this was really, really helping. But during those first weeks there were moments when I knew there was anger, more so from KT than EC. She was angry and I had to just let her be. I’d get angry looks or my hugs were rejected. But then I’d get notes from her saying things like, “I know you’ve always got my back. I love you.” And then there came a day when she started hugging me again. Like really hugging me. And couldn’t get enough hugs. The kind of hugs as a mom you love, when they come and just drape themselves over you with a feeling of total trust and contentment. It was a healing thing for us and I knew then that she really got it and she loved me for it. I’d like to think even more than before.

 My kids still love each other…maybe even more

I also wondered what it would do to EC and KT’s relationship by taking this on as a family. When we told them this was the game plan, EC’s initial and natural question was, “But I don’t have an autoimmune disease. Why do I have to give all this up?” Although we stuck to our decision that this was what we were doing as a family, I did have lingering thoughts in the back of my mind, wondering how this would impact the girls’ relationship with each other. I can honestly say it has been nothing but positive. First, EC discovered she loves AIP foods. Bone broth is something she will drink from a mug. So, she quickly realized she really wasn’t missing out on much but had gained a whole new world of foods she loved…thanks to her sister! Second, EC’s own health improved. She noticed she didn’t suffer from tinnitus or vertigo problems anymore. Cool. Third, (and I think this is the one that knocks it out of the park for her) she got her sister and best friend back. Seeing her sister in pain and unable to get up off a couch and then seeing her healthy again was big for EC. This really hit home for me the first time I was able to take them swimming at one of our favourite local public pools when KT was feeling completely healthy again. EC turned to me when we were in the pool and said with a huge smile on her face, “This is just so nice, mom. It’s so nice to see her happy again.” This is a picture from that day. So, yup. My kids still love each other. Maybe even more.