Some people just don't get it

There is this article in our newspaper. When I first read the article I was so happy that finally there seems to be more concern for food-allergy and diabetic children at the schools here. Then I read the comments, there are some people that are great, they understand, whether or not they have their own children affected by food allergies. Then there are some that aggravate me so much. These are the people that concern me.

G2 and G3 have over a full year before they will start Kindergarten, yet every time I think about it I about have a panic attack. I'm terrified for their safety. While they know their allergies, they are also very trusting. If a "safe" adult were to tell them something is okay for them to eat it, they will do so.

It is hard enough entrusting someone else with the care of your "normal" child, but then when you add something, like an allergy or other health concern, it is even harder to trust. Then, when they are in a school setting you don't only have to worry about the adults that they are in the care of, but also all the other children and their families.

There were times this school year that G1 came home with candy and would tell me his friend "so-and-so" gave it to him. I tried to stress to him that we don't take candy from other people, even if it is a friend, unless an adult says it is okay. Well, another child or parent could easily offer one of my girls something. G2 almost always asks if it is safe, G3 just trusts that if something is offered it is safe. When these other children or adults are asked if it is safe, and they have no clue about the allergy or what the ingredients are they are very likely to tell my children that it is okay for them to eat it. Then what?

Granted neither one has had a severe reaction, but that's because I have been right there and on top of things. We don't know what would happen if they didn't have a "responsible" adult around them (by responsible, I mean one that is caring for them and knows what to do in case of an emergency). We don't know what the next reaction will look like. We don't know when that "oh, it will be fine" moment could turn fatal. Some food allergies are easier to understand, nut allergies are always changing. Most of the time if someone has a nut allergy it gets worse with time and exposure.

There are these two comments, from the same person that really irritated me:

"Also, I would never dream of making someone else conform as to accommodate myself or my family. Those families that are imposing these restrictions upon the children at the school need to also put themselves in the shoes of the other children and see if they believe it's fair to them as well."

"Again, in all fairness you need to think about the entire student population and how it effects everyone. It's not just about these kids with food allergies."

I have typed and deleted so much in response to these comments, but I just find myself not able to put my words into "print." That's how aggravated I am.

If you get a chance read the article and the comments.

Most of the people that read this blog love my girls (well, all of my children) almost as much as I do. You know how stressed I get about making sure my babies don't have anything they shouldn't. Some of you know how upset (sometimes to the point of crying) I get when I am worried about these things.

I'm not sure I made any sense at all in this post. I'm sure it is just a bunch of rambling that only makes sense to me (and maybe Mom and Marcia because they seem to understand my rambling even when I don't).