Mom: What is it like having food allergies?
Son: It feels bad. And Cool. (cool??)
Why?
Because I get to have certain stuff like gluten free stuff.
Is that the bad or the cool part?
The cool part. Because it tastes good.
What do you want others to know about your food allergies?
I'm not allowed eggs, wheat, rye, barley, oat, tree nuts.
How does having food allergies make you feel?
Bad.
Why?
Because everybody gets to have the same stuff and I get to have a different kind of thing.
But you said your "thing" tasted good?
Yes, but my friends get to have stuff I'm allergic to and I never get to have those things.
If you had one wish about your food allergies, what would it be?
Me having no food allergies and me eating the stuff my friends at school eat.
Like what?
Gold Fish, Go-Gurt, eggs, Lunchables, and I have no more.
Is there anything good about your food allergies?
No. That's nothing.
Are your friends at school good about your food allergies?
They don't know about it so much. But they do watch what I eat.
What can Mommy do to make things easier on you?
Trying to not give me foods that I'm allergic too.(I'm already pretty good at that, thank goodness)
Are you ever afraid that you'll have an allergic reaction?
Yes
When do you get scared?
Every day.
Can you think of a specific situation?
At school, at lunch, when everyone has wheat around me, I think "oops, allergic reaction" and it won't be good at all.
What does it feel like when you have an allergic reaction?
Really bad. It feels like I want to puke. Ears were itching. My throat was itching.
If you have an allergic reactions what would you do?
You mean here or anywhere?
Anywhere.
Stick my head out the window (um, so not the right answer, so we had a discussion on what the correct answer would be. Find an adult, use the EPI Pen, call 911)
He's 5. And he's a man of few words. I know my son and could elaborate on a few of these, but his answers stand. The "sticking my head out the window" answer was a bit perplexing. I think I was just losing him at that point, but I'm glad that we went over what to do in a real emergency. And for the record, he can have Go-Gurt. We just don't buy it because of the large ingredient list and the dyes.
4 comments:
"When do you get scared?
Every day."
My heart = broken.
We get scared every day too little man.
I may just have to interview B today to see what she says.
Like Gab, my heart just broke when I read "everyday". I worked on my interview with my son last night. He's 6. I interviewed him last year, too. It's interesting to see the different responses I got this year. I think I will post it on Friday.
You know what I love about the "head out the window" comment and the comments like that I got from my son? It's the perfect opportunity to educate. This interview opens up conversation in a different way that the everyday day-to-day we must read the label kind of stuff.
Great interview!
If you've ever read Junie B books (which might not be your speed because of boys), there is a friend-- Sheldon, I believe, that isn't allowed to have anything "not from nature." Junie B was sad that it was hoagie day and she and Sheldon were the only ones with brought lunches. Though they didn't go into specifics, they still touched on the fact that not everyone can have food that everyone else can.
Still, it is a bummer to be different sometimes.
It's interesting to see things from their perspective.
Could the sticking the head out the window have anything to do with getting more air if his breathing is affected?
Post a Comment