Peanut Allergies Part 2

The following is a comment from a post I wrote in the Fall of 2008, Nut Free School? Save Mr. Peanut:

"WOW. I came across this post as I was researching peanut free preschools for my peanut allergic son. I really want to throw up. You people who feel that your rights have been violated by potentially saving the life of a child should be ashamed of yourself. It may take you a little more effort to make your kids lunch but try to put yourself in our shoes. The moms that have to pack a lunch for their kid and hope they don't die. I couldn't agree more that we need to teach our kids to handle their allergies and not eat other snacks. And I can worry about my child, even though he is still only 3 and isn't capable of being fully aware of what his allergies mean. But I can't be in charge of all the other kids in his future classes that may eat peanut butter and then come touch his pencil and cause him to go to the ER. I realize that if you are not living with the allergy you truly don't understand what can cause reactions, etc. But it blows my mind that you can be whining over having to pack something that won't hurt, potentially kill, somebody elses child. Along the same lines of teaching our children what they can and can't eat, the same could certainly be said for a parent whose kid will only eat one kind of sandwich. I mean really? So because you haven't taught your kid to eat a well balanced meal, my child should have a potentially life threatening experience? I am going to pretend that you were having a bad day when you wrote this and don't truly believe that a school shouldn't do everything they can to keep each and every child who attends safe. If that means that your kid can't have peanut butter, that is a small price to pay."

Sharon please read my post again... My post doesn't really match my title. My frustration is more about living in a community that doesn't account for vegetarians. I am sorry for your struggle and worries. Hopefully you will find a peanut free school for your son. However, I want to say, when someone is struggling to change, usually they hem and haw, belly ache and complain. These are the people you want to support, educate and not verbally attack. The people you should fear are the ones you know who need to change and they say nothing. With this in mind, my daughter tells me that kids are still bringing items with nuts to school despite the strict rules. We continue to struggle with figuring out lunches, but we have not once taken a peanut or nut into the school.

Also, to be clear my oldest daughter is in high school and my youngest is in preschool. Both schools are peanut free and I was complaining (but I have moved on since) about my oldest daughter's school. That is where I am torn not... with the preschool.