Hi there! I know I've seen a few post about the argument of homeschooling. But I have been under stress about my daughter starting school this coming year. Prior to a few months ago, I thought I had it all planned out. But then, her older brothers came home from school. At lunch both of them ate peanut butter crackers and never washed their hands. When they got home and gave her hugs, within minutes she was breaking out! She is technically only allergic to Tree Nuts but we have noticed recently that basic peanut cause her to react. My fear is that, although the school will separate her from the other peanut eating kids, once they go out to recess all bets are gone! It only takes one kid to touch her for her to start breaking out. I spoke to the school nurse about it and her response was "She needs to be educated and know what to do." My daughter knows what she can and cant eat. She informs everyone she knows! But how will she know to ask every child did they wash their hands?! I am really considering homeschool at least till she is a little older but I'm really struggling. She has been looking forward to going to school for so long and will thrive in that environment. We are just stuck. Please any advice would help! Non of our friends or family have a PA child...so we are alone on this.
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Mommy to Jaylen - Severe Tree Nut Allergy
If she's having reactions to touch like that, I'd honestly suggest you look for a nut-free school or home school her. I know the arguments against home schooling, but there is also the matter of keeping her safe. No school can honestly watch all the kids closely enough to make sure everybody washes their hands at lunch, and we all know how not-great kids are at keeping their hands to themselves. If you put her in a regular school, you'll end up having to make her phobic of human contact in order to keep her from having a reaction. In that case, I think the benefits of a school environment are going to end up being lost.