In my son’s preschool, there are no food allergies among the kids. Honestly, I’m not the most creative when it comes to packing lunch, so I’m relieved I can throw together the same simple meal each day: a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, some apple slices, grapes, snap pea crisps, and a juice box.
I occasionally try to spice things up, but the luxury of not having to stress over lunch ideas helps me navigate my hectic mornings. Dinner is where I get to have some fun with food. But what if I learned that I had to change his beloved sandwich because of a food allergy in his class? Sure, it would complicate things for me, but I would absolutely make that change. I’m incredibly thankful that I don’t have to face the anxiety that comes with having a child with food allergies, and I’m more than willing to lend a hand to make life easier for those who do.
Recently, a mother shared her daily experiences coping with her son’s food allergies in a post for The Huffington Post. It’s a stark reminder of the challenges faced by families dealing with serious food allergies, and how we should try to empathize with their situations. Her son is six and has allergies to dairy, nuts, and peanuts.
She felt compelled to share her experiences, pointing out that while society has become more accepting, there are still moments when she feels unfairly judged. Imagine sending your six-year-old to school each day, hoping he can avoid potentially life-threatening situations. I can’t even fathom that. Her son carries an EpiPen wherever he goes; my child, on the other hand, just has his trusty Batman figurine.
She knows the teachers are trained to use the EpiPen, but she worries about the bus drivers. Every day, she stands at the bus stop, and when it’s late, the sound of sirens makes her heart race. Picture that for a moment. When her son comes home from school and says he feels unwell, she can’t simply tell him to rest. She must carefully retrace his steps to figure out if he encountered something dangerous.
From her account: “My son said he found something at school. He thought it was plastic and was going to recycle it, but it turned out to be a piece of Kit-Kat! The chocolate melted all over his fingers, and he washed it off. My stomach drops. Did you touch your face before washing? Did you taste it? He insists he didn’t, but can I really trust that?”
She continues her line of questioning. “When did this happen?” Because timing can be everything. Unfortunately, it happened just before he got on the bus, leaving just enough time for a reaction if he didn’t wash well enough or if he accidentally touched his mouth on the way.
Here’s the deal: parents of children with allergies carry an enormous weight every single day. They work tirelessly to keep their homes safe, teach their kids about self-care, and hope those lessons will protect their children. If that means schools need to provide a safe space for eating or ban birthday treats in the classroom, so be it. If we could take a moment to step into their shoes, we might feel less inconvenienced by adjusting our own routines to ensure their child’s safety.
Instead of feeling put out by these changes, those of us who are fortunate enough not to deal with food allergies should embrace gratitude for our situation. And while we’re at it, check out this resource, which offers excellent insights into intrauterine insemination and related topics.
In summary, showing empathy and understanding towards families managing food allergies can go a long way. It’s essential to recognize the daily struggles they face and adjust our own behaviors to make their lives easier.