by Laurel Douglas

The other day, I noticed a small container of enzymes attached to Buster’s bike. It made me smile because it was such a simple thing, but it represented something much bigger.

For years, I was the one making sure enzymes were packed before we left the house. I carried extras in my purse, stocked backpacks, and thought (or overthought) through every possible scenario. Now, Buster is thinking ahead for himself. He knows that if he’s out riding with friends and someone decides to stop for a snack, he’ll need his enzymes.

It’s a small act of preparation, but for me, it symbolizes something every parent of a child with cystic fibrosis hopes for: growing independence 

As Buster gets older, one of my goals is helping him take more ownership of his daily care. That doesn’t mean I stop paying attention. It just means I’m looking for ways to make healthy choices, good nutrition, and managing CF easier for him to do on his own.

If I’m being honest, this transition hasn’t just been about Buster learning independence. It has been more about me learning to step back.

For years, I was the one keeping track of every enzyme, every snack, every treatment, and every detail. There is comfort in being the safety net.

Now, I find myself deciding whether I need to remind him or whether I should give him the opportunity to remember on his own. Sometimes he does. Sometimes he doesn’t. Both are part of the process.

One thing that has helped tremendously is keeping our kitchen stocked with foods he enjoys making for himself. When nutritious, high-calorie options are easy to grab, he’s much more likely to stay on top of his nutrition without needing Mom to be involved every step of the way.

Protein Pancakes Are a Staple

If you ask Buster what he wants for breakfast, there’s a good chance the answer will be protein pancakes. Because he makes them often, I always keep the ingredients on hand: cottage cheese, eggs, and fresh fruit like strawberries and bananas.

I love that he can make them himself, and he loves that they taste good. They are packed with nutrition and keep in the fridge for easy leftovers. That’s a win-win in our house.

Easy Protein-Packed High Fat Snacks

As a growing teenager, Buster loves an afternoon snack. As a teenager with CF, high fat snacks are non-negotiable.

Some of our go-to options include:

• Protein shakes
• Peanut butter and banana toast topped with hemp hearts
• Cashews and mixed nuts
• Meat sticks
• Greek yogurt topped with mini chocolate chips, coconut, and granola

These are all foods he can prepare or grab himself, which gives him a little more independence throughout the day while helping him meet his nutritional needs.

Learning to Make Good Choices

As kids get older, independence becomes about more than remembering enzymes. It’s also about learning how to make good choices when Mom isn’t right there.

As Buster has grown, we’ve spent more time talking about what his body needs and how to make choices that support his health. Whether he’s grabbing lunch with friends, stopping for food after practice, or spending a day at the beach, he’s learning how to think beyond what is easiest and choose options that will keep him fueled throughout the day.

For example, if he’s at Chipotle (a favorite with his friends), he always orders extra meat, adds extra cheese, and never skips the guacamole. It’s a simple adjustment, but those extra calories, protein, and healthy fats can make a big difference.

We’re also working on building habits around hydrations, especially during the summer months. Knowing when to grab water, pack a snack, or bring enzymes along may seem small, but these decisions add up over time.

These are the skills that build confidence. Every time Buster remembers his enzymes without being asked, makes a nutrition-conscious choice, or prepares for a day out with friends, he’s proving to himself that he can manage more on his own.

And honestly, that’s the goal. Not perfection, but progress.

Growing Independence

As parents of children with CF, we spend years doing everything for them. We remind, prepare, organize, and plan. Eventually, though, the goal is to help them build the confidence and skills to do more for themselves.

For us, that starts with simple things: knowing how to make a protein-packed breakfast, blending a smoothie, grabbing a healthy snack, remembering enzymes, and being prepared when plans change.

The good news is that independence doesn’t happen all at once. It happens one small decision at a time.

Summer is the perfect time to practice those skills because schedules are a little more relaxed and there are more opportunities to learn through experience.

Watching Buster take ownership of these small daily tasks reminds me how far he’s come. CF is still part of our lives every day, but so is growth, confidence, and independence.

And as hard as it can be for parents to step back sometimes, there is something pretty amazing about watching your child realize just how capable they are.

One small step at a time.