Monday, August 31, 2009

High anxiety

Thursday we had kindergarten orientation. The teacher had not been informed of my son's peanut allergy (teachers were only recently assigned). When I told her that my son was allergic to peanuts she asked 'Can he still have peanut butter?'

As you can imagine, I wasn't very hungry over the weekend. I didn't sleep much either. I'm glad to say that everything has been sorted out and I feel much better about the school and my son's safety but I don't have a new recipe for you today.

I can remind you of one of my most repeated recipes, Creamier and Chewier Oat Cookies (made with chocolate chips). I wanted to make something my son really liked and this is one of his favorite cookie recipes (mine too).

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Though a less critical question...I always found in interesting when I told people I was in medical school and they responded with "To be what? A nurse?" Um...MEDICAL SCHOOL? So...um...ALLERGIC TO PEANUTS!??? Wow! Glad everything is sorted out. Hope your peanut (ha!) enjoyed his cookies.

Red Dirt Mummy said...

My son attends a school that has declared itself to be peanut and egg free due to several kids with severe allergies. One of those kids is in #1's class. I think the biggest thing for you (and your boy) is dealing with the difference from daycare which tend to be smaller groups, easier for the staff to know everything to school with bigger groups, different teachers, etc. Totally get in the teachers face, and the schools face, and the PTAs (or whatever you have)face about his allergy, the seriousness of it and what needs to be done to keep him safe. It mightn't make you the most popular mum but your boy will be safe.
Hugs to you all!

B and the boys said...

I've been on the teacher side of peanut allergies and have to say that it helps to educate the kids in class as well as making sure parents fully understand what foods are a danger. In one preschool my son was in they sent home a wonderful list of peanut free snacks that I taped in the pantry and used as a reference when refilling the snack bucket. Keep on top of it throughout the year though since things like lunch in the classroom could come up and put him a table with "peanut children". Enjoy Kindergarten--- my second son is also entering K this year and it is a wonderful age! :)

M Smith said...

On the flip-side.... As someone with a nut allergy, it is MY responsibility to police my own food. And that began when I was in kindergarten and my mother and father told me NEVER EVER EVER eat anyone else's food.

Sorry to be a kill joy, but it isn't anyone else's responsibility but mine to make sure that I (and my kids) eat only what we want them to eat.

It is unrealistic to think that the other teachers are going to be able to do this in my absence. So the next best thing is in place: I educate my own kids well and we have Epi-Pens in the nurse's office.

I hate to say this, but one time with getting an Epi-pen in the leg will teach a kid never to eat what isn't theirs. It's a cruel lesson, but this hard-headed kid as a 2nd grader, learned that lesson.

The Cookbook Junkie said...

M. Smith,

I don't understand why you think you are telling me something opposite of my situation ('Flip side'? 'Kill joy'? Hate to say it'?) The school staff is not responsible at all for policing my son's food nor would I ever ask them to do that. He only eats what he brings from home. Of course the epi-pen is there and he's as educated as a 5-year old who has not had a reaction since he was under 2 years old can be.

But at the end of the day, he is only 5 and he is surrounded by kids eating peanut butter which is a first for him (his daycare had a peanut-free policy predating his allergy).

Anonymous said...

I had anxiety before, but I got a lot better now, thanks to www.medsheaven.com I HIGHLY recommend ordering from them, they have a section on their website for anxiety pills and the best part there is no prescription required!!! uc