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Lam, I'm sorry, but I'm not clear what you mean [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/confused.gif[/img]
Here, in Canada, we're not allowed to have any personal information about the children in the class. We're not allowed to know their last names. Jesse, for example, would be addressed as Jesse C. This has to do with custody and anonymity issues and our right to privacy/protection or something. I only learn the last names of children if I happen to meet their parents or my kids tell me.
But anyway, still not clear what you mean, and I guess more particular re food issues?
You know me, I would attempt to answer based on what I think you mean but I'm not going to, okay? [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/wink.gif[/img]
I would also like to address each other post that has been placed in this thread since my last response and add last night's parent visit to my home to the discussion but I must admit, I have to do it later.
Lam, totally off topic, but since I had to ask you a question, I have a couple of more and don't feel like re-raising the threads.
My apologies. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
Can you tell me if you know of anything that would help with hormonal migraines period? Do you believe that the Omegas would help with hormonally triggered migraines? Also, if I eat canned tuna, which I have just found out that I like (how old am I [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/eek.gif[/img] ? ), does it have either Omega 3 or Omega 6 in it? What about canned salmon that I actually like less?
I'm being lazy right now, but can transpose your responses to the migraines thread later.
Many thanks and best wishes! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
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Cindy,
Salmon is better than tuna, but, in actuality, you'd have to eat a good bit of it every day to get results. Much easier to take a supplement - and they are in such demand right now, you can find them just about anywhere - and in the long run they're much less expensive. Yes, I truly believe the Omega 3 helps with migraines - period - hormone related or not. I have not had 1 migraine since I started taking the supplements 1 1/2 years ago. I wish you well in this, Cindy!! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
Now, as for my vague question earlier...
Something has been bugging me about what you've been going through. I have to say that the 'going through all the kids' lunches and replacing the unsafe foods' doesn't sit right with me. I would be very upset if someone did that to my child's lunch - from this point of view: what if it was for someone who was allergic to milk, and they went through my (PA) child's lunch, removing his safe foods and replaced them with foods that were milk-free, but not peanut-free. Then what? And, after what you told me about not knowing anything about the kids' personal information, I'd say the risk is pretty great.
Do the parents know that this is happening? What if a child eats what was put into their lunch (by you or someone else) thinking that their parent put it in there, so it must be safe? I, personally, wouldn't want that responsibility. I'd rather send a reminder home (from the school) to the parent 'x' number of times, then have some recourse for continuing to 'break the rule'.
Just something that's been rattling around my mind about all this.
Have you sent a list of safe food ideas?
Make a list of thermos lunches, sandwiches and different breads for a sandwich (ie pita), finger food lunch, snacks...
Some times parents are so busy they do not think beyond the simple PB & J sandwich. Snacks can be made easy if they just know what to buy. The parents in my daughters class have always loved a list. A friendly reminder at the bottom to check labels just in case things change with production.
A brief discription of what happens to a child in an allergic reaction and how important their help and cooperation is to the life of your child.
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Karalot
Okay, I think I got all my notes written down so I can answer everyone *properly*. Last night, just as I was about to step out to go grocery shopping, I had the Mother of Jesse's friend at my door with her partner. She was absolutely beside herself because her child had had something else sent home that day and she honestly did not know what to send for her child's lunches/snacks. She had approached the teacher the previous day and the teacher told her [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/mad.gif[/img] that they were given certain information at the beginning of the school year and that information had been changed (meaning, not that she had bugged up but that I somehow had). The parent didn't feel as though the teacher had helped her out in any way information wise and since she knows me she thought, okay, I'll go to the source.
I apologized to her because I know she is on a tight budget and explained again why this was happening (i.e., teacher had bugged up).
So, we went through a list of foods that are safe that her picky eater child would eat. She was so cool and apologetic and I really felt badly for her. She has been label reading - how is she to know that Loblaw's No Name brands are not "safe". No one would know because they are labeled as if they were safe. The only person that would know is a PA parent that has called Loblaw's and inquired about their insane UPC phoning in thing.
At any rate, I had sent home some Nutrigrain bars with one of her daughter's Fathers last night and asked her to give them to this Mom to replace the child's snack because that's what would have happened regardless.
After my visit from her last night, I felt even more upset. I e-mailed the principal. I told her that two points of Jesse's school plan had obviously been violated or not adhered to. I also told her that I had had a parent at my door last night and that she would be one in a million who would show up apologetic. Other parents are going to be downright angry and who can blame them.
At the beginning of the school year, the letter that goes home does have my name and telephone number on it to contact me re food.
No one ever does or ever has. I e-mailed a letter to the principal for approval basically apologizing for the confusion in the classroom at this time and saying that I both sympatized and understood the situation they were now in. I again provided my telephone number for anyone to call me at any time to ask me any question about food. The principal must have thought it was a good idea because she did approve it for distribution.
On the one hand, I felt as though I shouldn't have to write an apologetic in tone even letter to anyone because it was the teacher that bugged up, but I really want to get the flames out of this fire and quickly before there is an explosion and if it's me that has to do it, that's fine.
erik, thanks for clarifying re Vector. It can be so confusing and if someone mis-writes what you did then someone else reads it and thinks it's correct when it's not. I'm glad that you took the time to correct my error, thank-you. And, I'd have to say that you aged yourself. I would consider the demographic for Vector cereal eaters to be in their 30's, so there goes any of us that previous to your age confession thinking that you were in your 20's. LOL! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/wink.gif[/img]
I can remember with great nostalgia a bulk food health store I shopped in every week 20 some years ago and what I came out of there with for $25.00. However, it sounds a lot different than a bulk barn and my soul, who would want jam in bulk. That does sound incredibly gross. Yes, Trebor-Allan's line of candies are great, but I'm sorry, I still really need to get a good old fashioned ju jube and jelly bean (I know, Dare).
DebO., a letter went home at the beginning of the school year. I'm not clear what else went home. I do know what paperwork I provided the school with, but not clear what they used. The principal doesn't want to send out the 11 page Safe Snack and Lunch List (posted here), but in an e-mail to her last night I did request that it be sended and I did say that I would have the photocopying of it done myself. She has not responded to that request. I really like the Safe Snack and Lunch List because it provides parents not only with the list of okay foods, but the reasons why their child is in a peanut free classroom and also basically menus for every day of the week.
Strangely enough, I guess because I have the PA kid, I never receive anything PA related in Jesse's knapsack. A list went home last week that I had not approved of apparently safe snacks and I never saw it. Turns out that a lot of the snacks were not okay. Again, I never approved it. I don't know whose idea it was to send it out. This, of course, added to the frustration of the parents.
A session with the class sounds like a good idea. I did see Jesse's teacher educate the class at the beginning of the school year re his PA and I actually felt that she did a really good job. Strange.
The superintendent did receive a copy of the e-mail that I fired off to the teacher the other day telling her she had violated Jesse's school plan. The principal did as well.
Lam, thank-you for your information re the Omegas again. I just know that you had mentioned you felt your family got enough of one of them in your diet that you didn't have to buy one of the supplements. Guess I'm going to have to buckle up the finances and get the supplements, especially if they have tamed your hormonal migraines as well.
I'll tell you why the hormonal migraines are particularly upsetting to me. My period is due tomorrow. The day before my period or the first day of my period I will get a migraine. Well, to-day was Jesse's birthday and I didn't want to be sick with a migraine.
I got up this morning and didn't feel well and just kept hoping that I wouldn't get a full blown migraine that would ruin his day.
I just feel that they are so uncontrollable.
I know the things that trigger them and do try to reduce as many as possible. One other question re this though - are you still taking the pill? Do you think that could have anything to do with no hormonal migraines? As I mentioned before, I never suffered the twice monthly hormonal migraines when I was on the pill and have considered going back on it simply because of that. I can just hear you on this board when I finally tell you I got my Omegas. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/wink.gif[/img]
The only other food allergic child in Jesse's classroom that the school/principal/teacher is aware of is the child that is anaphylactic to tree nuts and shellfish, allergic to watermelon and coconut. Remember when I thought I had violated her anonymity (the parent's)? They don't know of any other food allergic children in his class. There are only three food allergic children in the school that the school knows of (I can ask how many food allergic children there are, I just can't know their names).
I don't think the school would know how to deal with something more difficult, i.e., anaphylactic to milk and eggs. I really don't. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/frown.gif[/img]
Karen T., at the beginning of the school year, and this is what really saddened me when people started complaining, we sent home a personalized letter rather than the regular school form letter re the peanut free classroom that was supposed to have been written by Jesse. Let me see if I can pull it up. It explains what happens to him if he has an anaphylactic reaction.
Here goes:-
September 2002.
Dear Parents:
I would like to make you aware of a health issue that we will be learning about this year. I have a severe food
allergy to peanuts, their products, and oils. Strict avoidance is the only way to prevent an allergic
reaction. The allergy is life threatening.
My body reacts to peanuts, like some people do to bee stings, as if they were poisons. Not only eating these products, but touching or smelling them cause me to have deadly reactions. These reactions, called anaphylaxis, affect several systems in my body. The symptoms can show up quickly or progress slowly. Some of my symptoms include, hives, swelling of my throat, lips, and tongue, and wheezing with difficultly breathing, just to name a few. For this reason we need to be most cautious with our classroom snacks, party foods, and lunches.
Out of the 21-plus meals we eat each week, two of those will be consumed at ____ _________ Public School. Each
time he or she chooses to bring a lunch or snack without peanuts, your child plays an important part in decreasing the risk to me.
Reading ingredient statements for food and non-food items is extremely important. If you have any questions or
concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Cindy Cook at 966-2340.
I want to participate fully in all of our class activities this year. With your help, we can keep our classroom
safe for everyone.
I appreciate your understanding and co-operation.
My name is Jesse Cook. I am six years old.
Sincerely,
Jesse Cook
It was after parents were so vocal when we had sent home a letter from a 6 year old basically begging that he have a safe classroom that I was really hurt and upset. I couldn't believe it. I can believe them getting upset at the form letter, but if they sat down and read what was written and who by, well, it was just more hurtful to me.
I have to say that I did not write the letter (I can't take credit). It was written by another PA.com member and I'm sure that if anyone wanted to use it or parts thereof she would be fine about it. I'm positive she would be as she shared it with me to use.
I'll check with the principal tomorrow about the Safe Snack and Lunch List.
This morning I went into the breakfast program and most of my food was gone - apples, Nutrigrain bars, clementines, bananas. I was quite upset. Of course, I know why the food was gone but I'm still upset as the co-ordinator of that program that my food is gone because the teacher bugged up.
Okay, has everyone learned what I did the hard way? Spot check the first week of school and about a month afterward. Spot check and make sure they "get it".
Many thanks everyone for your continuing support (otherwise my head would have exploded) and best wishes! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
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Cindy,
I started out taking Omega 3 AND Omega 6, then later found out that we get enough Omega 6 in our diets already, and that's not necessarily a good thing. But, Omega 3 is the one we really need - very good in lots of ways. Go for the Omega 3 only. As for the pill, I don't think it has any effect on my headaches. I've taken it since I was 20 (I'm 34) and I just started having monster headaches in the last 2 years. I want to be clear here - I still get monthly headaches, BUT a couple Ibuprofen stop them if I take them right away. It never helped before. You may want to know that some people have trouble with burping up a fishy taste - I don't, but then I'm not a "burper" [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/wink.gif[/img] . Even so, I'd think having a fishy burp would be much better than a migraine.
Back to my other point, I was going to edit this in, but never got back to do it. I wanted to add more reasons for not changing foods in lunches - maybe a child has a special diet that the school doesn't know about or need to know about (not life threatening, whatever), maybe the parent is closely monitoring what her child eats (for whatever reason). As an example, my kids have a hard time with food dyes, blue in particular. It's not an allergy, more like an intolerance. Now, I don't consider this something the school needs to know, but I do watch how much dye my kids take in every day. Anyway, more things that would keep me from changing anything in a child's lunch.
Hi Cindy,
So I aged myself by mentioning that I eat Vector? hmmm.. Didn't know what age demographic ate Vector... haha ... Lucky I didn't say I like to eat Bran Flakes.. I think that would be an even older demographic!!?? [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
Also, it is good that you mentioned Dare as their candies are great too (ju jubes, jelly beans, etc). With all the talk about Trebor Allan, people may not realize about Dare's safe line of candies. It is good to support Dare as they are a local Canadian company based near here in Kitchener/Waterloo.
Anyway, back to the topic, it seems as if the parents are totally confused what is safe to send in their children's lunch. This might be a good time for the principal to send out a new letter clariying what is safe. I suggest that this letter mention that "no-name" products are not safe even if they do not have a warning label. As well, the letter should mention some safe snack choices (ie: Kelloggs rice krispie squares, Nutri-Grain bars, Special K bars, etc).
Good luck! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
I've read through the whole thread, now, and have just a few thoughts to share. First and foremost: I think it is horrible that you (Cindy) have been put into the position of appearing to be the obvious "bad guy" who both rifles through children's lunches removing their food, and is "responsible" for making the parents' food purchasing decisions so complicated and difficult. This is terrible, and the teacher is allowing (and perhaps even encouraging) the parents to have this perception of you.
I can't in good conscience encourage you to change schools, as I agree with you that your kids have already had enough school changes in their "wee" lives.
One thing that does strike me about the whole "may contain" issue, is that to require parents to go beyond what they can read on a label seems to go above and beyond reasonable expectations. I can totally understand keeping something out of Jesse's class when it has a "may contain" statement on it. However, I do think it's going too far for a parent to be expected to know/learn that Loblaw's no-name items are unsafe, even if not labeled as such, for example. Does that make sense? Others may disagree, but there does seem to be a point when others' rights truly are infringed upon - and this begins to cross the line, IMHO.
I'm also going to jump in with both feet now and request that people try not to use the term "nazi" in such a loose manner. I apologize if I seem overly sensitive about it: my dad is a holocaust survivor and many of my relatives were murdered by nazis. To be honest, it didn't bother me when Cindy was first using it in this thread (maybe because I "know", like and respect Cindy so much?) But then when others started jumping in with it it began to bug me a lot. I prefer the term "food checker from he**" even through it takes longer to write!
So, I hope no offense is taken by any of my comments. I also know I am not the police woman of the boards, and I am only making a request.
Bottom line on the real topic: this teacher is the teacher from he**. Her discipline methods stink, and she has no business being responsible for little children 8 hours a day. Cindy, you are being put through the wringer at this school: something has to change. Good luck; my best wishes and hugs are with you. Miriam
2 years ago, when Jesse was in SK, we learned that Pillsbury Canada was importing the slice and bake holiday cookies from the U.S. and not labeling them as "may contain", only labeling them to meet our bilingual requirements. How did I know they were "may contain"? I didn't at first and did buy them. I read it here. Then, I contacted the 1-800 # and was told that the product was not safe.
I approached Jesse's teacher and explained the situation. The items were "may contain" but not labeled as such. I told her that she could expect them at the Christmas party coming up or the Hallowe'en party. She said that no, she wouldn't be expecting them because if they were "may contain" even if they didn't say "may contain" on the label, she was not allowing them in her classroom.
This was after I had even said that it would be okay for them to be in the classroom because there was no warning label on them but just that Jesse wouldn't be able to eat them at the party.
I am wondering if this is when I formulated my reasoning re no may contains in the classroom, even if they are not marked as such.
I'll be back in later. I have a lot of stuff going on and I just don't feel great. I do have some interesting stuff to post from yesterday and I would like to get it down but I don't know, I just feel kinda not great right now.
California Mom, I had actually thought about my use of the word Nazi before I typed it and I understood when I was typing it that maybe it would not be okay. I'm actually glad that you took the time to tell me that it was not okay. I am very sorry. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/frown.gif[/img]
Best wishes! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
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me too - sorry Miriam - thanks for pointing it out
I'm new here ,and after reading the whole thread can tell you that i'm scared to send my son to school.He is only 2 goes to a sitters home for daycare were she can make sure he doesn't eat anything wrong.I was wanting to put him in a preschool in the fall ,but after reading this I am not sure anymore.There is a pn free school in the area but it is private (which means high tutition). I'm sorry you are having so much trouble with this teacher.
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