My Crohnstipated Life

There was a time when I worried about how my Crohn’s would affect my kids. Would they feel like they missed out? Would they be embarrassed? Would they resent having a mom who wasn’t always at full strength?

Turns out, my kids are my biggest cheerleaders.

They check on me when I’m resting. They offer me their stuffed animals when I’m not feeling well. They make silly jokes to cheer me up. They remind me, in their small but powerful ways, that I am so much more than my illness.

One day, my daughter said, “Mommy, you’re the strongest person I know.”

I almost cried. Because she sees me. Not my disease. Not my bad days. Me.

And if I can teach them anything, it’s this: Strength isn’t about never struggling. It’s about showing up—for them, for myself, for this beautiful, messy, unpredictable life.

Stay Strong!