Sometimes, I think we did a little too good of a job raising our daughter. Like when we’re in a restaurant we’ve never patronized before, and she orders off the menu. Or when she calls to say she is traveling to West Africa, and don’t worry, she’ll be fine.
I worry anyway. It’s a habit. Raising a child who has multiple anaphylaxis-inducing food allergies, there is constant worry. The most obvious focus is on health and medical issues – keeping your child safe and being prepared in the event of an emergency.
But as a parent, the worries run even deeper. How do you keep the allergies from making your child an outcast? How do you make sure you child doesn’t miss out on fun experiences like attending camp, taking vacations, sleeping over at a friend’s house?
In other words, how do you keep the focus on your whole child – not just your child’s allergies?
That’s what this blog is about. I won’t be offering medical advice or tips on how to make terrific cookies without milk or eggs (although I do know quite a bit about both).
Rather, I want to share with you our experiences in raising our daughter – severe allergies and asthma and all – into the fine, successful adult that she is. Sure, at times it was downright frightening, from sending her on elementary school field trips to dropping her off to live in the college dorms.
But with every twinge of fear, my husband and I reminded ourselves: We couldn’t raise a baby in a bubble and expect her to survive in the real world.
I’m proud to say the hard work and determination paid off. Now 24, our daughter still carries an EpiPen to guard against her life-threatening allergies to dairy, eggs, nuts, fish, beef and a few other things. But she’s also a Phi Beta Kappa graduate, recently married and living in New York City, where she is pursuing advanced degrees in education and social work. She and her husband travel, and even dine out – with great care, of course.
What did it take to get there? You’ll have to read on. And hopefully, you’ll take away some ideas that will help you and your family.
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