The Change

It was just about two years ago when we made the change.  June of 2012.  I had been searching and searching for how to help my then four year old son.  I knew his behavior was not normal. I knew we had tried every parenting technique to try and fix the problem. I knew this was not simply a phase or immaturity. Something had to be done. So I prayed.

I prayed for God to give me an answer.  I prayed that God would lead me to something or anything that would help us solve my son's behavioral issues.  I prayed and He answered.

Lincoln had been struggling with tantrums, night terrors, fidgeting, personal space issues (being in others' not people being in his), talking loudly, and just a general meanness when interacting with other kids. My feeling as a mom told me something was very wrong and it was not getting better.   My experience as a Special Ed. teacher told me this was ADHD.

After tirelessly searching the Internet, I found a blog with a story like ours.  A little boy experiencing many of the same symptoms who was helped by the gluten free diet.  Now I was familiar with the gluten free diet. We have family members with Celiac, Tics, O.C.D., etc. who were helped by going gluten free.  But Lincoln was different I argued. His behaviors seemed too sporadic and inconsistent to be related to gluten. This would be too difficult to do.  He really loves foods with gluten. What about everything he will miss out on?

Then I talked with a family member and she explained how her son had experienced many of the same behaviors as Lincoln at a young age. Finally, someone understood what we were going through.

God led me to this verse in the bible:
Isaiah 43:18-19
"Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up: Do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland..."

What more did I need to give in and do it. I had a verse from the Bible.  I had others' personal experience. I had a little boy who needed help. I had a family struggling with the frustration of living with a family member who demanded constant supervision and attention. I have a God who equips those he calls.  I would not be able to do this on my own, but God could do this through me and he would ultimately be glorified in my weakness.

Okay, we would do it.  We would do this as a family. The Browns would go gltuen free.