Being an allergy parent
is not an easy job. There are a lot of things you have to look out for, and
there are sometimes lots of things you need to avoid. Raising a child with an
allergy is also informative. There is a lot you get to learn about health and nutrition
when raising an allergy child. I’m Lucy, I have two children with cow’s milk protein allergy, and I’m here to share my thoughts on allergies
and parenting.
You know you’re an
allergy parent when...
There’s an emergency snack stash in every pocket
In general, snacks are
bargaining chips or welcome distractions. But, when you’re an allergy parent,
emergency snacks are crucial.
You may be out for lunch
and the cafe you stumbled upon doesn’t have an option for your little one. Or,
you might get held up in traffic or queuing, and the only option to calm your
hungry offspring in an emergency is with your snack stash. Because you can’t
just grab anything off the shelves, you’re excellent at forward planning.
There’s always a full change of clothes
I’m sure you can picture
the scene. You’re on your way somewhere, you lift your child from their car
seat, and you rapidly realise that they must have eaten something a few hours
to a day ago. The nappy’s off, the clothes are off, there are wipes flying out
of the pack faster than you can say allergic reaction. But, stress not. You’re
used to this, you clear it all up and move on.
You get the feels when you discover a new ‘safe’ food
No matter your child’s
allergies, when you can find new foods that are compatible with their diet, it
can open up a whole host of new meal options. Whether your allergy win was
discovering Coop sausage rolls were dairy free, or Pizza Express do gluten free
bases, that’s another meal option sorted.
You eat banned food when they’re not looking
Kids can sense foods
they can’t have from a mile off. You know you’re an allergy parent when you can
stealthily eat a whole host of banned foods whilst no one is looking, and no
one ever finds out.
You’ve got better research skills than the FBI
When going somewhere new
you feel it is important to check the kinds of food offered. This saves a lot
of anxiety, panic and disappointment, and it’s a particular must when you have
a fussy child.
You give Mrs Hinch a run for her money
When occupying eateries
and public places, cleanliness standards can be a stretch. Other parents who
don’t have to deal with allergies may label you as over-protective. But high
chairs cleaned with bacterial wipes and food picked off the floors of soft
plays are just two of your ‘favourite’ pastimes, and you excel at them.
Your head spins with reaction confusion
Depending on the
severity of the allergy, sometimes it is hard to tell if it is really a reaction
or a bug. Overthinking is a frequent threat in this situation, and you start
thinking back to what your child ate for the last few meals. Sometimes you have
to stop trying to micromanage the situation and just get on with dishing out
the cuddles...and the piriton.
The pain of explaining the allergies hits you every time
You know you’re an
allergy parent when you’re frequently having to explain why your child can’t
eat this, or play with that. You sometimes have to explain to people the reason
why, including symptoms experienced and severity of consequences. Sometimes all
you want is for someone to get it, and when you find those people, you can
relax and be yourselves. You cherish those people.
Being a parent to a
child with allergies has its challenges. It can be super-stressful, it can be
heartbreaking, and it can be messy! As an allergy parent you’re used to having
stealthy research skills, you’re brilliantly organised and the overflowing
protection and love for your child is second to none. You’re an allergy parent,
and you’ve got this!
About Lucy:
Hello! I'm Lucy, I write
over at Real Parent. I’m a mum of 3 keeping it real. Join me for
hints, tips, rants and lols as I wing it through parenthood.
I’m a Blogger in the UK
who helps parents to feel more normal by sharing the reality of parenting.
You’ll find real, authentic talk about postnatal mental health, childhood
allergies, pregnancy, breastfeeding and lots more. My posts will make you cry,
laugh, and feel like you’re not alone.
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