The top 10 things I wish someone had shared about living with childhood food allergies
We continue to learn from amazing parents of children with food allergies. One of our favorite teachers is The Food Allergy Mom, a blogger who shares her experiences, recipes and refreshingly positive attitude. She frequently writes about how those with food allergies can safely navigate specific restaurants’ menus, school lunch menus and special occasions. We’re proud to now share her story here on our blog. Thanks, Kimberly.
I still remember the day my son was diagnosed with food allergies. We had an appointment with an allergist to see if food allergies were a possibility. I was expecting a physical exam, maybe a test, and I’m not sure what else. What I didn’t expect was to be leaving his office with two epinephrine pens and the knowledge that my child’s life suddenly depended on me in a way that it didn’t before.
I had a folder full of information on allergens, reactions, and treatment but couldn’t for the life of me remember any of it. As I loaded my son into his car seat, I looked into that sweet face that was counting on me to keep him safe and I began to panic about all the seconds and minutes of the day coming after we left the safety of the allergist’s parking lot.
Handling life with food allergies
I can’t remember exactly what I did after leaving the allergist’s that day, but I DO know I put one foot in front of the other and protected my child to the very best of my ability. Now, I wasn’t the picture of effortless grace that first year in handling life with food allergies, but I slowly regained my confidence and began to realize that my family could do this and do it with a positive attitude.
Why the change in perspective? Simple. I quit focusing on the negative. In an effort to educate myself that first year of the diagnosis, I came across hundreds of examples of people living life to the fullest each and every day…with food allergies and asthma. I’m talking professional sports figures, celebrities, and everyday people like you and me. So, why shouldn’t my son be one of them?
For me, it all boils down to this: food allergies are simply a circumstance and they can’t define you unless you allow it. The day I embraced this concept, it was like seeing all of life’s possibilities for the first time in a long time.
Preschool, elementary, restaurants, travel with food allergies
The last seven years have been a testament to accepting that philosophy. My family has ventured out of our comfort zone to roll with the punches of attending preschool and elementary, eating out, traveling, and all of the food allergy challenge that those bring…and there is no doubt in my mind that we are better for it!
Looking back at the terrified woman paralyzed by fear that I was all those years ago, I yearn to hug her tightly and tell her, mom-to-mom, that everything WILL be okay…because it unequivocally will!
Kimberly's bird's eye view of life with food allergies, sparked by her kiddos, Maggie and Ty
The top 10 things I wish someone had shared about living with childhood food allergies
10. Become a member of credible support networks such as Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) and AANMA (Allergy and Asthma Network of Mothers of Asthmatics).
9. Know that your comfort zone will always change. Try to be flexible.
8. Learn NOW how to effectively advocate for your child in any situation.
7. Don’t quit trying if your allergy-friendly food creation bombs. Try, try again! (Visit trusted sites like SunButter and my blog, The Food Allergy Mom, for tried and true recipe ideas from other moms.)
6. Realize YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Find an established and credible local or online support group. Find food allergy support groups near you.
5. Attend food allergy events such as FAAN’s Food Allergy Walk to support medical research for curing food allergies and to learn more about allergy-friendly food vendors.
4. Educate your peers! Not everyone will be as knowledgeable about food allergies as you. Education is the route to eliminating ignorance.
3. Reach out to others experiencing a food allergy diagnosis and let them know they are not alone.
2. Volunteer to be homeroom mom or an assistant room mom for your child’s preschool and elementary classes.
1. Live life to the fullest. Food allergies are simply a circumstance; they can’t define you unless you allow it.
Do you have other tips for parents of children with food allergies? What’s your story? What works for you? We’d love to hear about it. Comment here or on our Facebook page.
Releated posts:
Food can be fun for children with food allergies
Food is fuel. Food is also fun! One of our weekly highlights is seeing photos of what Keeley McGuire packs in fun bento lunches for her lucky daughter, who also happens to have a peanut allergy. We’re proud Keeley shares her story here, and we love watching her daughter thrive. Thanks, Keeley! Look at this lunch: My name is Keeley and I have a little site called Keeley McGuire Blog. When I started blogging last year, I didn’t really know what direction I was headed – I just knew I needed a creative outlet. I started sharing some crafts, recipes, my love affair with my crockpot, and what I called “silly sandwiches” for my daughter, aka Little Miss. If you’re a mom looking to spice up your kiddos’ lunches, start simple. Use a cookie cutter on the sandwich! It takes the same amount of effort to cut a sandwich into a fun shape with a cookie cutter as it does to cut it in half. Then, get as clever as you’d like.
Allergy Apparel for kids with allergies
Allergy Apparel offers hip apparel and other products to help safeguard children with food allergies. In addition to offering products, Allergy Apparel offers resources to parents, such as links that offer support and advice, an event calendar, other products that may enrich their lives, a blog and more. Allergy Apparel’s products also give parents of kids with food allergies the opportunity to ask questions and to better understand food allergies.
Tags: allergy apparel, kids with allergies, nut allergy foods, nut alternative, nut free spread, peanut allergy foods, peanut butter alternative, peanut free foods, sun butter, SunButter, SunButter story, SunButter where to buy
Pingback: Living Life with Pediatric Food Allergies « The Food Allergy Mom
Pingback: Vote The Food Allergy Mom As One of the Top Mom Food Blogs of 2011 « The Food Allergy Mom