Updated: July 8, 2021
Originally Published: Jan. 19, 2015
When my eldest child started second grade, we received notice that one of her classmates had a nut allergy, prompting the entire grade to go nut-free. This news was a jolt to our happy little peanut butter and jelly routine, and I was fuming. My daughter, a notoriously picky eater, would only eat a handful of things, and peanut butter was among her favorites. Couldn’t this allergic child just sit at a different table? Why should an entire grade be inconvenienced for one kid? The world isn’t nut-free, for crying out loud—why should the school dictate what I can serve my own child?
My son has a severe allergy to cats. Should that mean no family could own cats because their child might come to school with pet hair that could trigger a reaction? Of course not. I saw no difference between these scenarios. I made snide comments online and sighed every day I sent my daughter off with a turkey sandwich, fully aware it would likely end up in the trash after a few bites. Nut allergies? Just a made-up crisis, I thought.
Fast forward four years, and here we are—my youngest child has developed a nut allergy. Karma, is it? Nice to meet you! Thankfully, her allergy is relatively mild currently, but experts warn that reactions can worsen with exposure. Let’s just say we won’t be experimenting with a jar of peanut butter anytime soon.
While we remain vigilant at home, making sure to educate our kids about potential risks, I’m still terrified every time she leaves for school. She’s five years old and can barely remember to put on pants without a nudge—how can I trust her to dodge any food that might contain even a hint of nuts?
This new reality is daunting. I’ve thought about homeschooling, but I can’t afford to leave my job and take on that responsibility. And guess what? There’s no disability check for a food allergy (I checked!). So every day, I send my baby off to school, hoping other parents will respect the nut-free policy and understand that we aren’t trying to make life harder for them. Having a child with any food allergy isn’t something I’d wish on anyone. Parenting is tough enough without the added fear of exposure. Nut allergies are real, not some ridiculous exaggeration cooked up by overprotective parents—even if I used to roll my eyes about them.
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In summary, I’ve gone from doubting the seriousness of nut allergies to experiencing it firsthand with my own child. It’s a sobering reminder that parenting often comes with unexpected challenges, and empathy is essential in our shared community.