Things Are Going A Little Better

[Smunkeemom]

My 4 year old has been having "food issues" lately, and pretty much didn't want to go anywhere (church, choir practice, friend's birthday's, ect.) because they were having food that she couldn't eat. I understood, but was worried about her socialization, I mean her dad, sister and I are cool and all, but she's gotta hang out with someone else.......right?

She still doesn't want to go to choir, since they eat dinner there and the menu is either hotdogs with tots (gluten), hamburger with fries (gluten), or corndogs and chips (she can eat the chips.....sometimes), so I bring her food that's gluten free and the kids are either rude to her of stare at her.

So, how are things going better you ask.......

First my friend bought some gluten free food just for Kathryn, more than the animal crackers I bring for them, she got her some rasberry cookies, that are "Kathryn only" they look so fancy and I triple checked them they are for sure gluten free.

Second, the same friend is running VBS this year, and she is making sure that everyone's snack is gluten free and lactose free (there are some children at church with milk allergies)

Third, the church is hiring a new children's minister and her child is alergic to milk, eggs, corn, and might have celiac, so she understands 100% about cross contamination (something that Kathryn is really worried about) and also about making sure nobody is left out when there is food.

and the best thing of all?

A few ladies from my church are starting a brownies group and they are making sure that nobody is ever left out, almost all the girls have some type of restricted diet (celiac, milk allergies, diabetes, ect.) and they are doing a "bring your own snack" rule, so that everyone is "brown bagging it" and the only other time there will be food at the meeting is when they do cooking badge and she can cook something gluten free

I guess this is my anti-rant.

I do kinda feel like we are avoiding her food issues...anyone else have kids with food issues? what do you suggest I do to try to fix it?

[mouse]

What a POSITIVE outlook. I am so glad that your child is going to be able to mainstream without those looks that so many get (including the adults). These things will go a long way to build her confidence. Thank you for sharing.

[penguin]

I love love LOVE the scouts thing! What a great idea! (I'm not biased or anything )

Even with a "normal" troop, they'd be ok probably. I know with my own scouts, they're really understanding about the health problems other people have. They may be in the minority, since one of the scouts' dad has ALS and they've been dealing with that since daisies, but scouting tends to breed tolerance. You may even have them go to other troops and educate others about various allergies and diseases (especially in juniors and up as a bronze, silver, or gold award project).

And the cooking badges are SO much fun! I believe strongly that kids should learn how to cook from an early age, celiac or not, because you're going to have to eat every day for the rest of your life.

My 4th graders did theirs on an overnight and I split them into 3 teams: a dinner team, a snack team, and a dessert team, and everyone cooked and everyone cleaned (but the cooks didn't clean their own meal). They did everything themselves, from chopping to sauteeing. Make sure you give the scouts trust, my co-leader squirmed at the thought of 9-10 year olds handling large knives for chopping and slicing, but they did just fine. We don't give kids enough credit for what they're capable of!

OK, now I'm done with MY anti-rant I just get so excited about scouting!

[KayJay]

oh that is such good news. What a nice church! You said your daughter was 4?

[Smunkeemom]

oh that is such good news. What a nice church! You said your daughter was 4?

yep, she is 4 and has been gluten free since October of last year.

My other daughter is 2 and has been gluten free since May of 2004 so she is past the "adjustment" and also doesn't really remember eating gluten.

[TCA]

I think I'm going to ask my church to go gluten free in the nursery since my kids are still both in there. It's a small church, so they'll be the only ones there sometimes. It would just be so much easier than having to constantly worry. How do you handle the play dough issue though? My 3 year old has been begging for some and I haven't yet been able to make him understand. Any suggestions?

Way to go Smunkeemom! Glad it's getting better. We're getting there too, slowly but surely!

How do all of you handle pot luck dinners at the church? Got one coming up. I don't mind taking a dish to share that is gluten-free, but I worry about CC. Any suggestions?

[Smunkeemom]

I think I'm going to ask my church to go gluten free in the nursery since my kids are still both in there. It's a small church, so they'll be the only ones there sometimes. It would just be so much easier than having to constantly worry. How do you handle the play dough issue though? My 3 year old has been begging for some and I haven't yet been able to make him understand. Any suggestions?

we make playdough with gluten free flour at church for everyone to use, and at home we make some using peanut butter that's edible (peanuts aren't allowed at the church nursery)

How do all of you handle pot luck dinners at the church? Got one coming up. I don't mind taking a dish to share that is gluten-free, but I worry about CC. Any suggestions?

I usually bring my own spoon for my dish and try to keep an eye on the table to make sure people aren't using it anywhere but there, also I mark the dish "gluten free" so that people know it's special (and shouldn't be contaminated) and also on the off chance that there is a person with celiac disease visiting.

Most of the time they make room for my dish at the front of the table and keep things pretty well away from it, so that there is less chance of dripping.

[Guest nini]

you can buy a gluten-free dough from Discount School Supply it's called Colorations

or I have a recipe that works great that you can make at home. I usually make enough for my daughters class at school and provided a small amt. for her sunday school class.

[TCA]

I'd love your play dough recipes! Thanks. I've never heard of that store, Nini. I'm in Alabama, so it may not be here. Can you order from them?

I found the play dough on the web! Woo Hoo! Happy day!

[Smunkeemom]

Peanut butter playdough

* 3 1/2 cups peanut butter

* 4 cups confectioners' sugar

* 3 1/2 cups honey

* 4 cups dry milk powder

1. In large bowl, cream together peanut butter and confectioners' sugar, then beat in honey and fold in milk powder. Divide into 15 equal portions and refrigerate or freeze until ready to use.

It tastes really good, and freezes well.

Also (speaking of freezing) on the same day that I make this I also make gluten free cupcakes and freeze them individually and then when there is a birthday party we are invited to (or a church pot luck) we thaw one out, frost it, and take it with us, that way the girls always have cake whenever others do too

[mrsnj91]

Maybe the teachers at your church can read a story about children who are all different and then talk about what makes each child in class different. (The library has some wonderful books for something like this.) Openly pointing out your DD's Celiac and what that means. She can basicly explain it like an allergy so the young children would better understand. Often children respond that way simply because they don't know. They are probably picking up on the fact your DD is "different". Perhaps pointing out what makes her (and the others) special will help the children understand better and be more accepting. Then offer to bring in some safe snacks to share with her friends so they see her food isn't so different. Since it is church you can point out that Jesus loved everyone no matter who they were or what made them "special". Just some thoughts. 4yr olds are pretty much open minded about things like this.

It is wonderful about the changes in the church. It will make her life so much happier.

[jenvan]

Great to hear about the people who are being responsive and solution-oriented to the group outings etc. Thanks for sharing!

[Cheri A]

That's wonderful that your friends and church are being so accomodating!!

I wish I knew more people IRL whose kids had allergies so we could band together for a girl scout troop or something. All the food flying is one of hte reasonsthat I have kept my dd out of scouts.