So glad that I can offer you a little bit of hope. 🙂

Omg! My 13 year old son was just diagnosed with celiacs and then subsequently I was, and I have had the same thought of wishing I didn’t know. So hard and overwhelming but thank you for the uplifting article

Kelly, Thank you for saying this! My son is 6 – just diagnosed last week. (He has no symptoms, but is Type 1 Diabetic so they screen regularly). I keep thinking “I wish we just didn’t know he has it! I wish we had more time so he could have a more normal childhood.” You’re comment makes me see I’m not terrible for thinking this, BUT it is TRULY BETTER to have an early diagnosis.

Mom guilt is a real thing. But we know so much about how malnutrition hampers further growth. The sooner we can catch it, the better our health will be, long term. And hopefully fewer missed school days due to illness, which means a better educational foundation. You’re doing great, mom! <3

Thank you for this perspective. My daughters were diagnosed at 6 and 3. There’s definitely a loss of innocence and I sometimes wonder if I should have waited to push for a diagnosis. Then I think I’m crazy for thinking that. It’s helpful to know that other parents feel that same guilt AND hear the reassurance that early diagnosis is in fact better (of course I know that but mom guilt is so strong!).

I love hearing how this has helped the two of you bond. My father also had Celiac Disease, and we loved being able to share recipes and new products with each other. I definitely deepened our bond.

Dear Mary,
Thank you so much for sharing this insight. I to wish I had had been diagnosed sooner. I definitely had symptoms when I was in high school, and I struggled physically when I was in college. I know some people may think that their child’s Celiac Disease diagnosis may steal their kid’s childhood. But I can definitely saying being undiagnosed, and living with symptoms throughout my childhood, was equally as hard.