" Will his teacher keep him from eating something poisonous."

Peanut allergies are taken very serious in our culture now.  Have a child stop breathing  after brushing a peanut and you DON'T forget that!

 

 

My son starts kindergarten in a week. He has Celiac disease. Today I found out that he has one of the worst teachers to have. She is very mean and not very understanding. My son's wheat Allergy is very severe. How do I go about educating the teacher about Celiac Disease and make sure there is absolutely no what bright into the classroom for fear of cross contamination? Would you print out information and hand it out at the meet the teacher day and also parent night?

Canadian or American School? Regardless, there are a few things you can do. I have three boys, ranging from 13 to 5.5, and have been dealing with schools for a while. Some have great and understanding systems, others have either a poor teacher or simply poor information. We had a good dose of both this past year on a new school and it sounds like you are going to have a challenge on your hands!

1)   Most schools follow a " no sharing" policy due to peanut allergies and liability issues. Play on that! No Sharing is No sharing. It doesn't have to be about JUST your child.. and can take some of the isolation out of this. Act on " the best interest of all the children…" at least on the surface!

2)   Find an Aly!   A school secretary, another teacher, a Parent Group, ANYONE. Approach it as " I am really needing some help with understanding how to work with the school…". 

3)   INFORMATION! Yes! Sharing information with the school can help. Keep it breif and targetted. I made up stickers for my kids lunch boxes that showed clearly a WHEAT & Gluten Free status. Cartoon stickers help for the little kids. ( it is also stunning to me how people don't seem to connect that bread is wheat! that flour is wheat… oih LOL. Yes, information is important!)

4)   Volunteer. IF this is an option for your schedule/home dynamic it is WORTH it! I am not a big volunteer junkie… but it got us through some rough patches and smoothed the way. Volunteering to make cupcakes for a class event, supervising at lunch hours, or being a teacher's helper in the mornings ( staying late to cover lunch hours).

5) Protect YOUR  OWN! Ultimately, we will have a life ahead of running into people that WON"T meet us half way. Document EVERYTHING, get medical letters from Dr's stating it a health requirement (not just a fad!), and stand your ground firmly. Be willing to go above peoples head on strike three.

MOST important? Talk about it! Find people and places to vent, share and find support for YOU! I hope I am going to be wrong, but I suspect this is going to be a rough road ahead! You can do this!

This afternoon I made up a batch of OH-so-addictive PB marshmallow Squares.  Definitely hit the spot!

Confetti Squares

• 1 cup butterscotch chips
• 1/2 cup peanut butter (100% PB cuts the sugar and doesn't impact the taste!)
  
• 1/4 cup hard butter ( Margarine is fine.)
  
• 8 ounces coloured mini marshmallows

Directions

1. Heat the butterscotch chips, peanut butter, and butter.
2. Stir until smooth. Watch it; peanut butter burns quickly!
3. Cool a wee bit.
4. Stir in marshmallows.
5. Pat into a greased 8×8-inch pan and chill.
6. Cut into squares.

To the sound of fingers being licked clean, we eventually let the kids have some! 

Hey Hun,

Here is the recipe you asked for.  Wish I was there to make it with you and the boys.  Am missing you horribly.  Might have to make myself a batch just to have feel you near. So here it is;

Mini Morsel Pancakes

• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour (Di’s rice blend)
• 1 1/2 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 3/4 cups milk
• 2 large eggs or equivalent in egg replacer
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

COMBINE flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.  Combine milk, eggs (or egg replacer), vegetable oil, and brown sugar in a medium bowl; add to flour mixture. Stir with fork or whisk just until moistened (batter may be lumpy).

HEAT griddle or skillet over medium heat; brush lightly with vegetable oil.  pour 1/4 cup of batter onto hot griddle; cook until bubbles begin to burst.  Turn; continue to cook for about 1 minute longer or until golden (light brown if using Di’s mix).  Repeat with remaining batter.

SPRINKLE with powdered sugar; top with strawberries. Serve with homemade maple syrup!

Makes about 18 pancakes.

NOTE: add semi sweet chocolate bits to flour mix before mixing with liquid ingredients to make chocolate chip pancakes.

I love you,

your Darling Hubby

( PS.  That part is the secret ingredient!  LOVE!  lots of it!)