Food Allergy Challenges

Any other food allergy moms out there? My children's combined allergies are: peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, wheat, soy, and dairy. Thrown in the mix are various complaints about pineapple and watermelon. While this list may be overwhelming to some of you, especially those who don't face this particular challenge, it is our normal and my kids are very healthy eaters. Frankly, what to eat is no longer our major issue.

So what are the big issues. Well, let's take our recent trip to Sherkston Shores, Ontario. My parents have a site there and they have been seasonal renters for over 30 years. Last year the general store in the park began carrying bags of shelled peanuts AND they have taken the garbage cans off of the beach. This combination almost landed us in the emergency room. (By the way, the hospitals in both Fort Erie and Port Colborne have closed and the nearest hospital is is St. Catherine's Ontario - almost an hour away. They do have socialized health care in Canada...) Anyway, I digress, this post is about our trip to the beach.

When we went to set up our chairs, we kept finding spots that were littered with mounds of peanut shells left on the beach. It took us a while to find a spot that was safe enough for the kids to play. This is the most frustrating part of allergy parenting. the everyday experiences that become potentially deadly to my children. Even though they groom the beaches at Sherkston, and those peanut shells will not be visible tomorrow, they will be lurking under the surface of the sand, waiting for a child do dig them up while making a sand castle.

Allergy moms, I know you will feel my frustration. Non allergy families, please be aware that food products can be deadly to some children. Everyone, follow the golden rule of camping and carry out what you carry in.

Lord, help me to keep my children safe and help the kindness of others to create a safe world for all of our kids. Amen