ugh. I feel asstastic.

[rootofnewt]

I'm going to have to get obsessive about handwashing and babywashing and not sharing.

I keep getting glutened at playgroup. As a result, I've had constant GI upset for a few weeks. And, of course, having constant autoimmune flare-ups in one's small intestine isn't exactly healthy. Add in the hives I'm getting from contact reactions to soy, wheat, etc . . . I'm just not too happy.

So no more sharing directly from Ronan's dish of snacks--I don't mind handing out animal crackers (Orgran), but I won't let the babies serve themselves. And no more sitting on the floor for me, though I doubt Ronan will settle for that. :/ And I'll have to wash my hands religiously and wipe down Ronan frequently.

And I've tried to explain to other moms that if their kiddo comes up to me and wants to spit crackers into my hands, I CANNOT oblige. It's not a matter of squeamishness, it's a matter of not wanting to have an allergic reaction.

This is one reason (of many) I wanted to meet at parks instead of folks' homes. When we meet at homes, there's a full spread of snacks and finger foods. In parks, the picnic spread is far more limited and easier to avoid.

Comments

[kesara.livejournal.com]

I don't know what it is about this year, but the pollen is so evil that I have been having constant allergic reactions to everything. My autoimmune system is going nuts.

I usually don't have this much trouble with pollen, but my throat has been raw for weeks, and of course my food allergies are back with a vengeance. My summer routine of having to go completely gluten-free, soy-free, mostly fruit/vegetable seems to be necessary now instead of late July/early August. I don't get it.

This year just sucks for allergies.

[hobbitblue.livejournal.com]

if their kiddo comes up to me and wants to spit crackers into my hands

Er, what? Why would they do that?

Would wearing thin cotton gloves or something be too weird an alternative (assuming the stuff didn't transmit right through, mind..)

[krasota.livejournal.com]

They're babies. That's what toddlers/babies do.

Gloves wouldn't help much and they'd involve me having to bring contaminated wash into my home.

[crankles.livejournal.com]

I got glutened this weekend too, by assuming (ha! how foolish of me) that the eggs at IHOP were gluten-free. Turns out they put pancake batter in their eggs for some inexplicable reason. Never make assumptions *sigh*

I'm sorry the other moms don't get it - it seems pretty simple to understand.

[sheilamarie.livejournal.com]

Ok, that's about the dumbest thing I've ever heard. You put eggs into pancake batter, not the other way around. The batter would weigh down the eggs and stop them from being light and fluffy! This is boggling my mind so much that I think I'm actually getting a headache from it! I add a touch of milk or water to help make them fluffier. I really don't get that. Beyond dumb on their part. Maybe that's why I don't like their eggs...

[crankles.livejournal.com]

I agree, it seems like it would make the eggs gummy. Who knows! Must be some strange attempt to cut costs.

[mjhamilton.livejournal.com]

Sounds like it's the old problem that the allergy-free folks never seem to "get it", even with multiple explanations. I've had to intervene several times for students this year. One girl tried to get my peanut-allergic student to eat Hershey's chocolate (which is not safe).

Maybe you can find a playgroup with an allergic kid in it?

[junni.livejournal.com]

I am always stumped that education doesn't work. I think allergies and intolerances are difficult for people since they can't see them. Have you out right said you are allergic to wheat, etc., and given the analogy to a peanut allergy (even if it's not quite synonymous)? In my personal experience and watching friends/family, one sadly has to raise the alarms above where they need to be in order to attain some measure of health and safety. Ridiculous, really, but how it is.

[lightning-rose.livejournal.com]

Education works. You just have to get their attention first. Cattle prods work well for this purpose.

[deborahs-corner.livejournal.com]

sadly people don't understand what they can't see and don't really want to take the time to. So repeated telling has to be done.
hugs