Nov. 20, 2007 - Celebrating with Food....Or Not...
This holiday season is always filled with gatherings surrounded by food. Last year we had our own little thanksgiving feast at our house, and I have to admit it was nice. (we didn't yet know the extent of N's condition). I cooked the meal for the first time, turkey and all. And it was really delicious, if I do say so myself. But all the work and timing and everything involved with cooking a meal like that....it's nothing compared to the stress of dealing with severe, life-threatening food allergies. Having a child like N puts a whole new perspective on celebrating everything with food.
This year, DH will be staying home with N on Turkey Day, while I take the rest of our clan and go to a family Thanksgiving dinner. N won't miss it, and DH is really looking forward to the fun time alone with him (plus I'll bring home plenty of left-overs for him!). It's difficult for others to understand, but for us it's a choice between N's health and safety, and other peoples' feelings and opinions. N wins, hands down. In our own home, we keep as much of the allergenic foods out of the house as possible, and N knows what he can eat. But even here, accidents happen, and he reacts. That happens here, in the safest environment possible! So taking him somewhere that he'll be surrounded by food he's allergic to; that's being cooked in the same area as him; that others are getting on their hands and faces and possibly then touching him; that may be dropped on the floor; may be smudged on a chair or a counter or a door handle.... The possibilities of exposure are endless!!
I don't like taking him places that I know we're going to have to give him Benadryl and put steroids on his skin after we take him there. Gatherings, museums, the zoo, church. It's a very uneasy feeling knowing you have to choose between making others happy and comfortable and drugging your kid, or keeping your kid safe and people thinking you're crazy and over-protective.
I am a member of a great food-allergy support group. They sent out a newsletter with non-food suggestions for Thanksgiving. They are great suggestions, which all the parents of food-allergic children, I'm sure, love and go for. But with a holiday like thanksgiving, it's hard to convince people to let the food take the back burner! Anyway, I do get visitors often that are dealing with food allergies, so click here for 12 food-free Thanksgiving crafts and activities; strategies for making dinner and school safe; and allergen-free recipes for pumpkin pie and stuffing!
~Lindsay
Comments
Nov. 21, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Aw, Lindsay, I am so sorry that things are so severe that it effects your family like this! I know you guys are doing what is best for Nolan, and that is the best thing to do. You are great parents! We will have to have more get-togethers that don't include food. We do make food the center of most of our activities don't we?!
You guys have a great Thanksgiving!
Betsy
