Ok, Now I'm Upset

[Roda]

My boys go to a summer ESP program two days a week while we are working. I filled out a TON of paperwork including papers describing my youngest sons food restrictions and celiac disease. I even talked at length with the director and she assured me they take things like this very seriously. Well obviouslly not serious enough at least for my child. They have to take a lunch but two snacks are provided. I informed the director that I would send his snack and not to give him anything. Yesterday they gave him fruit snacks. There probably wasn't a gluten issue with those but that's not the point. Today I walked in to pick him up and he had a bag of baked cheetos and it was almost gone. Again, he probably won't have a problem with those (I would) but I also found out he ate two prepackaged rice crispy treats this morning! The counslers stated that the director never let them know and they couldn't apologize enough. I doubt this will happen again and I suspect I will be getting a phone call from the director.

The other thing I am upset about is that I have stressed to my son (he is 6 1/2) that he not accept food from anyone. I have told him to tell them that he doesn't know if he can eat it. I realize he is 6 but this is something he is going to have to deal with the rest of his life. I need him to start taking that responsibility of telling people no. It really hasn't come up though because at school all of the snacks were gluten free and he knew it was safe to take things from the teacher. So a little learning process here on both of our parts. The other thing is my child will take advantage of a situation if given the opportunity and would argue with a brick wall. I have been packing his lunch with his extra snacks. I asked him why he didn't eat his snacks today and he said I didn't pack any. HUH? His brother said he has been throwing away a lot of his food and just eating what he wants and then it's gone. Lesson learned on my part, don't put the snacks in his lunch box! I will give his snack to the counsler when he goes in the mornings or keep a box there for him to pick out of.

I really hope his reaction isn't too bad. This is the first known ingestion of gluten since we did his gluten challenge back in March and we could only do it for three days because of the behavior changes. I know if it was me I would be miserable by now. So here is hoping for a good weekend.

[kareng]

Makes you mad!

Maybe you can find out what the snacks are & which ones, like the fruit snacks he can have with the other kids. It would be nice if he could accept some of them. You could let him know which he can have. It's confusing for him because he may have fruit snacks and home made crispy treats so he thinks they are OK.

[Jestgar]

Once you've passed the risk of going postal, take the opportunity to teach the counselors a bit about reading labels and just how confusing our food packaging is. They might appreciate learning a little bit, and it would give them a bit more power to understand food issues in general.

My mom knows a lot about food, but she was floored when she really started paying attention to labels because of me. Hell I was floored. What happened to food?

The six year old boy part is up to you.

[Roda]

Thanks guys. When it comes to the six year old he and I still have some learning to do. There are situations that come up for him that I never had to deal with by myself. Definately different challenges with a child. I will talk to the director and ask what the typical snacks are (what brands) to see if he can have any of them.

[Cara in Boston]

I would be so upset.

This is our first summer dealing with celiac. I completely trust my son's Kindergarten teacher to keep him safe, but not the various people he will come in contact with at all the different summer programs he will be attending. Just to be extra safe, I bought a rubber bracelet that say "Gluten Free" on it for him to wear when he is with people who may not know him well. Not only should it alert the person, but it will help him (I hope) speak up - he is very shy. He usually just says "no" quietly when someone offers him something but I have seen adults continue to offer it to him (again and again) as if they can't believe a kid is turning down a cookie or something. With his bracelet, he can just say no and show it to them (I'm guessing, we haven't tried it out yet.)

He thinks it looks cool, so I'm not worried about him being embarrassed wearing it. It is one of those rubber bracelets (like the "livestrong" ones) in bright red.

I bought it on Amazon.

I am amazed at how often he is offered food by virtual strangers. I guess I never noticed it before.

Cara

[Anazoth]

I honestly don't blame you and you have every right to be angry at this. They should have been told of your sons disorder and should have respected your wishes. A little gluten wont be a problem for him but it's not really the point. I am glad you stood up to them and let them know what you thought, well done

[Roda]

I don't thin it will happen again. I bet the two counslers call out the diector.

If it was me that wasn't informed I would for sure let my boss know. I too trusted his kindergarden teacher to give him safe stuff. In fact they they made all snacks for snack time gluten free.

[Roda]

Well, we dodged the bullet yesterday so I thought we were in the clear. NOPE! Mood swing is in full force this morning and he is fixated on the shoe thing. I still don't get that one. He had this issue before gluten free and it seems to resurface when he gets glutened. And then there is older brother who is telling me he feels icky again which he was doing all day yesterday too. Fun Fun! The only thing that could make it more interesting is give me some gluten too (just kidding) . I'd pitty the husband if we were all three "off."