Update

Update:
It's been over a week since the peanut butter at school incident occurred.  The principal has still not spoken with me directly and Molly has encountered this substitute twice with no apology from her.  I feel like the issue is being avoided- which is so irritating.  When my child breaks a rule or does something wrong I make her apologize.  I think that adults should do the same.  By not apologizing you are giving kids mixed messages and they are less likely to do the right thing next time.  I also feel by not apologizing the school and the substitute teacher are showing total disregard for my child and her peanut allergy (and did I mention her 504 plan failed her in this instance?!).  The regular classroom teacher told me that the kids do not like this substitute pretty much based on this incident and her attitude towards them.  Maybe if she APOLOGIZED, the kids would see she actually does care about them, that she can show humility and empathy, she can admit adults can make mistakes too, and they would actually like her...just a thought.

SIDE NOTE:  I have told Molly that under no circumstance is she to be rude or unkind. I don't expect her to be overly friendly, because she seems to intimidated by this woman, but I will not tolerate her being rude.  If their is a problem from here on out she is to go to the office or go to the bathroom and call me on her cell phone.  I am also considering having these instructions put into a 504 plan, just so she feels more comfortable because this is causing her anxiety.

Reflections: Face of Food Allergies

The responses written to The No Nut Traveler in reference to the article that appeared on Yahoo were absolutely appalling.  All that was being asked was for fair and consistent policies from the airlines in regards to traveling with nut allergies. No one was asking for anything unreasonable.  Being able to BREATHE and LIVE isn't an "entitlement" as some like to call it.  Unfortunately for people like my daughter, others often feel that their right to eat whatever they want whenever they want wherever they want trumps her right to LIVE.  Guess what?  IT DOES NOT.  HUMAN LIFE COMES FIRST.  ALWAYS.  I cannot believe I have spent two days even blogging about this??!!  Isn't this common sense?!?!

After reflecting on yesterday's blog, I decided that food allergies need a face.  I am hoping that giving a face to food allergies will help others to recognize that people with food allergies are people YOU probably see and come in contact with everyday.  I hope that putting a face with food allergies will show that the negative and rude responses ARE PERSONAL to us- that these allergies are truly life and death.   These people with food allergies are our families, children, co-workers, friends, and neighbors.  Food allergies could easily effect you or your family- the face in the picture could be you or your child.

I am asking that if you are comfortable sharing a picture of your loved one with a food allergy on social media, you do so and pass it on :-)  I shared my beautiful picture of Molly on Twitter, using the hashtag #faceoffoodallergies