Teenage PA rebellion?

I posted where you asked that question. But, I will post a similar response here for others to read.

I said that I never ever rebelled. I was just too scared of what the reaction would do to me. My teen years were WAY before i had my first anaphylactic reaction. I don't know what made me "behave", but I think it stems from the fact that my family was careful, but they never made a big deal about it. I was shy in high school and didn't have many friends, so that alone wouldn't be a problem. (I also knew better than to even TRY drinking).

To be honest, I think your question has shocked me,b/c it never occurred to me that a teen *might* rebel and try eating something with peanuts! I think that's why I don't know what to say! I understand that your kid is allergic and it makes you anxious, but I hope that he never tries to eat it!

Well, I guess I might have been described as a rebel, but I never once took chances with my allergy. I was looking for a way to be daring and assert my individuality, but I didn't have a death wish (thankfully).

Carelessness comes with adolescence though, so although you may find forgotten epi pens at home, its not done to be deliberately daring. Any memory of a reaction is enough to put you off trying a Snickers, so don't worry about that aspect.

I never once thought about interrogating someone before they kissed me though (even after a having reaction caused by just that), so a bit of education there would not go amiss!

I'm not sure what advice I could give you as I always did the polar opposite to anything my parents told me to do and even now I don't know how they could have done any better, but if you have any specific questions, maybe I could help.

Gwen

I can't speak for all allergic teens out there, but I never rebelled a la Snickers bar. I had my first anaphylactic reaction when I was 16, so maybe the memory was fresh in my mind... I wouldn't worry too much about this though, remember it's your child who has the allergy, and will no doubt take it very seriously by then. It's one thing to sneak into the liquor cabinet, it's another to eat poison.
Having said that, and this will probably terrify some of you, I will admit that I may have on more than one occasion ignored a may contain label. Being a teenager is about setting your own limits and establishing your own comfort zones. I've said it before, but it's important to remember that it's the person with the allergy who has to deal with the consequences, and no amount of parental input will change that.