Comments on: Where is A Food Reaction Most Likely? http://kidsfoodallergiesblog.com/2008/04/28/where-is-a-food-reaction-most-likely/ A forum about food, health, and quality of life issues for food allergic kids, their friends, and families Wed, 7 Jan 2009 04:19:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: purplemommy http://kidsfoodallergiesblog.com/2008/04/28/where-is-a-food-reaction-most-likely/#comment-21 purplemommy Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:53:21 +0000 http://kidsfoodallergiesblog.com/2008/04/28/where-is-a-food-reaction-most-likely/#comment-21 I don't see how you can't hover as a FAM (Food Allergy Mom). I just try no to be to conspicuous. Incidently my mother came and took care of my kids for a full week while we were in Spain. I got lucky in the "grandma" understanding realm. (Also my MIL was a preschool teacher and was well aware of the seriousness of food allergies before we even had kids.) I don’t see how you can’t hover as a FAM (Food Allergy Mom). I just try no to be to conspicuous. Incidently my mother came and took care of my kids for a full week while we were in Spain. I got lucky in the “grandma” understanding realm. (Also my MIL was a preschool teacher and was well aware of the seriousness of food allergies before we even had kids.)

]]> By: Rachel http://kidsfoodallergiesblog.com/2008/04/28/where-is-a-food-reaction-most-likely/#comment-18 Rachel Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:39:28 +0000 http://kidsfoodallergiesblog.com/2008/04/28/where-is-a-food-reaction-most-likely/#comment-18 Leaving food allergic kids with grandparents? Oh, where to start . . . . When our FA son was four my hubby and I attended a wedding, and left his parents in charge of our kids for the evening. Everything went fine, but it was a bit touchy leading up to the event. First off, my mother-in-law wanted a list of foods our FA child could not eat. I'd explained how he was allergic to all nuts, and that dairy and eggs posed big problems as well. But she wanted a list, so I wrote out this huge list, and mailed it to her. She got it and was horrified - "It's so long!" I tried to break it down to simple rules (no nuts, no milk, no dairy) but this did not work either. I got phone calls like this: "I know you said no milk, but we buy Pepperidge Farm bread and it contains milk and I was wondering if that was OK. What about macaroni and cheese?" I kid you not - I had these conversations. Finally, I got smart. I told her don't worry, I'll bring the food. To this day when we visit we bring food. It could be an entire prepared dinner with many courses and dessert for 10, it could be lunch or it could be snacks -- but we bring it ourselves. BTW, my m-i-l is a pharmacist. Licensed, and practicing. She has medical training! I'm still not sure whether she takes the food allergy issue seriously, but we do. And then there is my mom, another person who doesn't seem to take this seriously either. When we visit my folks we always have at least one meal out at a restaurant. My husband and I have to be very careful to make sure Grandma does not sit next to our FA child, as otherwise she will invariably offer him something. At some point I remember her trying to get him to try lychees. Sorry, but we are very strict about his diet, and I don't let him eat things produced in China. They don't have any controls on whether something has nuts . . . and what are lychees anyway? I plead ignorance even though I've eaten them. Our FA child is now of age where he'd like to stay overnight with my parents. My hubby is - wisely - firmly against the idea because of my mom and our concerns about her ability to view his safety as her top concern while he is in her care. If I think about it beyond in passing it just makes me sad because it seems like one more separation point. Aren't grandkids supposed to hang out with their grandparents periodically? Leaving food allergic kids with grandparents? Oh, where to start . . . .

When our FA son was four my hubby and I attended a wedding, and left his parents in charge of our kids for the evening. Everything went fine, but it was a bit touchy leading up to the event.

First off, my mother-in-law wanted a list of foods our FA child could not eat. I’d explained how he was allergic to all nuts, and that dairy and eggs posed big problems as well. But she wanted a list, so I wrote out this huge list, and mailed it to her. She got it and was horrified - “It’s so long!” I tried to break it down to simple rules (no nuts, no milk, no dairy) but this did not work either. I got phone calls like this: “I know you said no milk, but we buy Pepperidge Farm bread and it contains milk and I was wondering if that was OK. What about macaroni and cheese?” I kid you not - I had these conversations.

Finally, I got smart. I told her don’t worry, I’ll bring the food. To this day when we visit we bring food. It could be an entire prepared dinner with many courses and dessert for 10, it could be lunch or it could be snacks — but we bring it ourselves.

BTW, my m-i-l is a pharmacist. Licensed, and practicing. She has medical training! I’m still not sure whether she takes the food allergy issue seriously, but we do.

And then there is my mom, another person who doesn’t seem to take this seriously either. When we visit my folks we always have at least one meal out at a restaurant. My husband and I have to be very careful to make sure Grandma does not sit next to our FA child, as otherwise she will invariably offer him something. At some point I remember her trying to get him to try lychees. Sorry, but we are very strict about his diet, and I don’t let him eat things produced in China. They don’t have any controls on whether something has nuts . . . and what are lychees anyway? I plead ignorance even though I’ve eaten them.

Our FA child is now of age where he’d like to stay overnight with my parents. My hubby is - wisely - firmly against the idea because of my mom and our concerns about her ability to view his safety as her top concern while he is in her care. If I think about it beyond in passing it just makes me sad because it seems like one more separation point. Aren’t grandkids supposed to hang out with their grandparents periodically?

]]>