Going to School with Food Allergies

I took these pictures of Claire yesterday morning. She just looked so pretty, I told her I wanted to take a picture. I love our new camera! I got my stuff from the Food Allergy Network yesterday. We had to buy duplicate prescriptions for her to have at school which totalled over $200. Yikes! I also felt the need to buy some items to make it easier to manage her allergy to milk at school. I can't believe it starts next week. After much prayer and discussion, Joel and I decided to send Claire to public school. It is going to be hard to let go of my control! I have never trusted any one else with her food allergy.

I purchased some picture key chain holders to put on her backpack and lunch box. It has a picture of her and on the other side instruction for what to look for in an allergic reaction. I also bought a card with how to read a label for a dairy free diet. I thought this would help her teacher to read the labels for snacks etc... I feel it would be easier this way than trying to educate all the parents in the class. I plan on just having a back up snack at school for her when there is something she can't eat. We met with the school secretary and cafeteria cooks this morning. Claire won't be eating the school lunches, but everyone who is around her should know of her allergy. I will be packing her lunch everyday. One of the guides I bought from the Food Allergy Network has 2 pages of lunch ideas! I am glad to have options for her other than sandwiches.

I will be meeting with the school Nurse and Principal in the future, and of course her teacher. They weren't in this morning. I know it will be okay and everyone will be glad to work with us. It is hard for me to be so bold. It is so out of my personality. I have had practice in different situations though: the hospital, church, YMCA, birthday parties, soccer, etc... I have had to step out of my comfort zone of blending in the background and make myself known. I have to for Claire's sake. God has definitely helped me with this and I pray that he will make me more comfortable as time goes by. The older Claire gets, she will be able to be outspoken herself about it. My biggest fear is that people will be annoyed by me being the 'food police'. I never imagined having to monitor my child's food so closely. It has been a learning experience for all of us!