A is for Allergies…and Assholes

New today on Suburban Misfit Mom!

 

My daughter has a peanut allergy. We found it totally by accident while doing some testing for another suspected food allergy. That one came back clear and then the doctor said, “Oh, but she IS allergic to peanuts.”

It might be hard for some to imagine how we couldn’t have had an inkling since she was 5 when we tested her…plenty of time to witness a reaction, right? Well…she’s also a very picky eater (like basically on a hunger strike, picky) so she had never eaten peanuts, peanut butter or peanut butter cups for that matter (which used to be a staple in my diet).

We went from zero to epipen in 60 seconds. They are in our home, her grandparent’s homes, my purse and school.

It sucks for her because the reality is that peanut butter runs rampant around children and there are peanuts in so many things you wouldn’t even think about.

The thing that blows my mind is what assholes parents of kids without allergies can be. I’m literally sickened by articles I see, written by moms just like me, and reading the comments from morons who say shit like, “My kid should be able to bring a peanut butter & jelly sandwich for lunch and we shouldn’t have to change our meals because of your kid.” I’m not making that up…some people really think like that AND say it out loud. Yet, I know with every fiber of my body that if THEIR kid was diagnosed with a food allergy they’d be just as flustered by parents like them.

I just don’t get the disconnect. I can’t tell you how many times people have said things like, “Well, it doesn’t have peanuts…it was only made on equipment that has peanuts.” OY!

I’ve even had people come into my home…MY HOME, and bring pastries or cookies or treats in unmarked boxes and say, “I don’t THINK there are any nuts…I don’t see any or taste any”. I mean, are you effing kidding? Do you also enjoy a lively game of Russian roulette? Why would you even chance it. When in doubt, throw it out.

Listen, you jerks…it’s not that complicated. There are kids in your child’s school who could very well have an anaphylactic reaction just by breathing in peanut fumes. So if you really can’t wait for your kid to get home to have a PB&J sandwich, you’re basically a monster.

It’s easy not to care when your child is not the one affected. But I just wish all parents could have some consideration, compassion and common sense for that matter. Just pretend for one moment that it IS your child and take the same precautions you would take to protect them because I would protect yours just like mine.

No PB&J is worth it. Period.