Halloween marks the start of the season of delicious food, baking, and eating way more than we should. What does this mean for the mother of a little boy with 20+ food allergies? STRESS!!! I find myself saying/thinking the following phrases at least ten time a day: "Do you have an ingredients list?" "Is that homemade or from a store?" "No thanks, he has food allergies." "Was that made in a gluten free facility." "Sorry honey, that's not safe for you to eat." "What kind of milk did you use?" We are blessed to have thoughtful friends and family who do their very best to make sure there is something available for Nathaniel to eat. There is so much to consider in the realm of 20 food allergies,even with the most supportive people I cannot let down my mommy guard. I cannot stop asking the questions.
The holiday season means party after party with candy, amazing baked goodies, and gluten filled main courses that most people look forward to all year! In our house it means more questions, more food planning than normal, and more telling Nathaniel he cannot eat that delicious _____ that everyone else is eating. It also means spending more time in prayer asking for God's protection over Nathaniel when I makes mistakes.
This was our first allergen free Halloween. I did SO SO SO much candy research. I created an alternative candy/goody bag for Nathaniel to trade his trick-or-treating candy for. We talked about how we were going to send most of our trick or treating candy to the troops so our bellies would not hurt. I prepped Micah with all the same alternatives so he could have fun allergen safe trick or treating. Our adorable boys dressed up, some friends came over, and we started walking the neighbor hood. Then the unexpected happened. A few of our neighbors thought ahead at purchased special candy for Nathaniel! I was floored by their thoughtfulness, and Nathaniel was so excited. He asked every house we stopped at if the candy was "Nathaniel Safe." If he didn't think he could eat the candy he gave it to Micah or Jerome. When we got home the boys poured their candy out on the table and Micah swapped out the candy he was given that was on the "Nathaniel safe list" for some of Nathaniel's "unsafe" candy. Then together they decided which candy they would keep and the candy they wanted to send to our soldiers. I was so proud of Micah and Nathaniel and it was a fun evening for all! No reactions and an overall success!
I sighed a thankful prayer of relief and offered up my continued prayers of thankfulness for the blessings of being given a child with food allergies and for how it has changed our family for the better.
Halloween marks the start of the season of delicious food, baking, and eating way more than we should. What does this mean for the mother of a little boy with 20+ food allergies? STRESS!!! I find myself saying/thinking the following phrases at least ten time a day: "Do you have an ingredients list?" "Is that homemade or from a store?" "No thanks, he has food allergies." "Was that made in a gluten free facility." "Sorry honey, that's not safe for you to eat." "What kind of milk did you use?" We are blessed to have thoughtful friends and family who do their very best to make sure there is something available for Nathaniel to eat. There is so much to consider in the realm of 20 food allergies,even with the most supportive people I cannot let down my mommy guard. I cannot stop asking the questions. 
1 comment:
I love this. I also appreciate you having them send some of the candy that they don't need overseas. I know the troops love that thoughtful act, especially when it comes from two adorable and caring little boys. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
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