Digging In My Heels: Over a Cookie?
In consideration of kids with allergies, my daughter’s teacher is limiting birthday snacks to peanut-free, store-bought cookies. The only problem — I have yet to find a local grocery store or bakery where I can order/purchase/pick up cookies that are safe for my allergic child. I inquired at Whole Foods whether I could special order a batch of vegan/nut-free cookies for a dairy and peanut-allergic child. The store representative politely but frankly explained that they could not assume that kind of liability. (His unspoken question lingered why *I* would be willing to take on that kind of risk.) I am trying very hard to get the teacher to allow me to bring in something other than a store-bought cookie for the class to share. The clinic aide and the assistant principal both independently suggested that I bring store bought cookies for the class and a different treat for my daughter. I can think of nothing more assured to make her cry than her mom providing a snack for the entire class that she cannot eat. I would rather bring nothing at all! I understand the school wanting parents to provide store bought treats — so that standards of cleanliness can be enforced and ingredients can be verified. But I do not understand why they cannot be more flexible in allowing me to bring in something other than cookies. Their risk would be greatly reduced by allowing me to bring a treat, like Philly Swirls, that she has eaten many times without allergic reaction. And the class might actually enjoy it. But given the highly regulatory environment which I am discovering public school to be — I have a feeling that my appeal for common sense will fall on deaf ears. Wish me luck.
September 8th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Hmm, where to start with this rich post . . . .
First off, I realize it’s boring but the “Enjoy Life” line of baked goods should suit your allergy bill. Whole Foods carries a bunch of their stuff, including cookies! Be warned they are gluten-free and not necessarily the texture you may be seeking.
Second, the whole thing reads like a bad Kafka novel. What’s the point of the policy, other than to make everyone equal by having nothing? Has the class begun to learn the Internationale yet? This is silly, and perhaps bordering on dehumanizing. For crying out loud these are KIDS!
Third, please know that NOT ALL public schools are like what you describe. In fact, many if not most allow kids to bring in a special treat for the class for birthdays!
Fourth, my older two kids came home from school the first week with letters from the principal informing us that both have peers with nut allergies. The gist of the letter: to make sure us parents did not send in birthday foods containing any nuts. One teacher even had the parents sign the letter and return it to school to prove we’d at least seen it . . . and then she had the kids put it right back in their backpacks and bring it home for future reference.
Finally, as for my nut-allergic child, I send him to school every year with a 10-pack of something like chips ahoy. Or maybe two of those. Anyway, he gets one when others bring in those store-baked cupcakes for their birthdays. He doesn’t particularly like it, but he’s not excluded totally, *and* it trains him to never take food with a potentially dangerous ingredient.
September 9th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
[…] briefly entertained Rachel’s suggestion of sending in Enjoy Life cookies — but I don’t think it would have the desired effect […]