One source of that noise: Q was diagnosed with nut allergies before she was 2 years old. Having a child that is severely allergic to nuts is a little bit stressful (to say the least). Thankfully we have avoided exposure for over 3 years. We have to be diligent about everything she eats. It has changed our lives. It is astounding how many foods contain nuts, possibly contain nuts or are manufactured in a plant that processes peanuts or tree nuts. Granola bars, most store brand animal crackers are out, many cereals, some wheat bread, plain M&Ms, some chips, many brands of chocolate chips, many bakery items, candy corn, scoop ice cream at shops, Asian food, Thai food, brownie mixes and the list goes on and on and on. We never needed to know this before Q and most people that don't have children or the allergy themselves don't realize how life threatening it can be to give a child one of these foods as a snack. We never really knew either.
It has been an adjustment to say the least. I have always had a little worry about it. But, that worry is getting even bigger since Kindergarten is looming in the future. We have another year to prepare and Q is really good about asking anyone that offers her any food if there are nuts in it. However, sometimes the person offering the food is someone her age or younger and they just say "yes" or "no" depending on what they are feeling that day. So, she trusts that everyone knows and reads the label - even 2 year olds.
One of the things that angers me most are fast food restaurants. The conversation with the worker taking our order usually goes something like this.
Me: "What type of oil do you use to fry your foods" (gasp! yes sometimes we feed them fried foods)
Worker: "I don't know".
Me: "Is it peanut oil?"
Worker (starting to get annoyed): "I don't know."
Me (getting even more annoyed than the worker): "Can you find out because she could die if I feed her a nut oil."
Worker (grunts and yells to the back): "WHAT KIND OF OIL DO WE USE?"
Person in the back (answers in about 2 seconds): "Soybean."
Now see, it wouldn't have been so hard for them to find out in the first place.
I know that there is more education about food allergies than ever before as about 1 in 13 kids has a food allergy. I wish the other 12 sets of parents also understood the seriousness of the allergy. I was creeping around on a blog the other day and read a posting from a parent who was angry that the school would throw away a peanut butter sandwich if she were to pack that in her child's lunch. Now, obviously the school is nut free. So, we have some lady mad that the 50 cent sandwich she made would get trashed in an effort to keep multiple children from going in to anaphylaxis or death. Really lady? Really? You want to go there?
Now, I know that it must be hard for parents of children to pack lunches that don't contain nuts. Actually, no I don't know that; that is a lie. I don't know how that could be difficult at all. Just don't pack nuts or nut butter or cookies with nuts. No one is saying that you have to read labels and avoid everything that is produced in a nut factory. No one is saying that you have to spend more money to pack something worthwhile for your kid to eat. No one is saying that. All they are saying is please don't risk killing someone else's kid with what you pack in a lunchbox.
Okay, so I am obviously more than worried about foods in Kindergarten. I have no worries about her learning. I have no worries about her clip getting moved to yellow from green on the stoplight most days because she will talk out of turn. I have no worries about her walking in a straight line down the hallway. I have no worries about her defending herself. I have no worries about her learning. I have no worries about her making friends. I have no worries about everything being backwards because she is a lefty. I have no worries that she will get picked last in games. I have no worries that she will have to wear her "pee pants" because of an accident. I have no worries that she might get head lice. I have no worries about any of that.
My worry is that she will want to trade her boring lunch with a friend and accidentally eat something containing nuts. My worry is that I will get a call from the school that my little lady had to be taken by ambulance to the hospital because she ate a pistachio or cashew or peanut or walnut or almond or Brazil nut or hazelnut that might have been hidden in some food… Thank goodness she isn't starting school in August. I have more time to educate her and role play and model and teach her to ask an adult and all of those things. I have more time to prepare her.
In the meantime I will continue to worry. But I will run. I will run to quiet the noise. Then I will worry. Then I will run. Then I will worry. And, again, I will run.
Quinn's skin prick allergy test
I shared this one on my Facebook. Great post and important topic to address. Remember when I accidentally gave Quinn a Dollar General goldfish cracker while babysitting and the freakout that ensued? And that was with me trying to be super-careful. Thankfully everything turned out ok, but it's a real challenge. Hopefully raising awareness in posts like this and in other ways will help make it a little less of a challenge.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! Yeah, every label must be read - as you learned :) I hope we can raise awareness since this effects so many kids. We need to look out for those little people that can't look out for themselves.
DeleteLoved this. My 7 year old is severely allergic to peanuts and sesame and he has to have an epi-pen. We found out when he was 2.5...so we've had time to adjust, but it's a constant in our lives. Recently I went to my younger son's Kindergarten Coffee...a meet and greet, question and answer session for parents before our kids start this fall. Someone eventually asked a question about allergies, we are not a nut free school....and a conversation continued for a few minutes on the subject. I kid you not, a mother then raised her hand and asked if it was possible to have her child placed in a classroom without kids with allergies. WTH?? My blood still boils. I will not be making an attempt to be friendly with that mom....I'll be trying not to smack her silly.
ReplyDeleteYikes Elizabeth! I get so upset when I hear that sort of thing. Good luck getting through the school year with her!
DeleteHi Megan,
ReplyDeleteGREAT blog post! It's our forever challenge to educate those other 12 parents who don't get it. What I can never grasp is how, after education, parents still insist on PB &J sandwich for little ones. Really? How is a small child suppose to be responsible to not share? Do you have a 504 plan in place? These create a specific plan for your child a health disability. Even though my kids hate the D word, they are limited in life functions due to food and therefore need a plan for school.
Thank you!
DeleteShe doesn't go to K until Fall 2015 so we haven't had to explore the idea of a 504 yet. That will be something we will consider though!
Hi Megan. I appreciate hearing this perspective. My kids are not allergic to nuts, and I'm very thankful. My son has crazy reactions to penicillin, so we've had this allergy scare once before, but that's an easy thing to avoid. Both schools my kids have attended enforce a "no sharing of food" policy. They don't restrict nuts, but they do seem very serious about not allowing any food exchanges. In fact, all three kids now tell me AT HOME that they absolutely can not share food, even if it's food they don't want anymore... and even if everyone's eating the same thing. Just thinking about training your daughter - It seems like this "trade nothing" philosophy might be easier to grasp. Not just b/c of nuts, but also germs. Germs are really the only reason my kids think it's unsafe to share food, but that's been enough. Of course - I have no way of knowing if every child takes it so seriously... or if some sneaky food trades have occurred without my knowledge. In your situation, I would still worry and probably still want other parents to avoid sending in nuts. But since you can't monitor those other parents or kids, I just wanted to share my experience. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteI like the "trade nothing" philosophy. I will begin to teach that along with the "eat only what I pack" policy! Ha! That way she gets the message loud and clear. The germ approach will also resonate with her. Good idea. Thanks!
DeleteGreat post. My daughter is heading to 4th and she's a lefty too! You said everything that is always in my head. I will say that as the years go on it gets a bit easier.
ReplyDeleteLeftys are great! I am glad to hear that it will get a little easier. Thank you!
DeleteThis is a very good article. I thought I was going to lose my daughter at about 8 months due to a taste of peanut butter pie. She is heading into the 4th grade now. I highly recommend the 504 plan, simply because it makes teachers, cooks and principals more aware of the situation. There is nothing worse than asking God to take you instead of your daughter, and that is what I did in the ER. Until people experience it they will not truly understand, but the best method is to make people aware and that is what you are doing. Thank you for posting this.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize that you had a little lady that was allergic too. You are right - it is our job to make people aware! Thanks for the input on the 504 plan - we will consider that soon.
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