Food Allergies with a Tween

Olivia turned 12 a few weeks ago and overnight she became a tween.

Mood swings. Attitude. Drama.
It's apparently a complete package as soon as they blow out their 12 candles on the nut-free cake.

Anyway...

Tonight is Olivia's first junior high dance. OK, it's being advertised as a "get together" for the 6th grade (and ONLY the 6th grade) but there will be a DJ so it's a dance.

Liv is going with two of her friends because THANKFULLY (as far as I am aware) boys are still gross at this point in time. OK, I'm hoping they're still gross. ;)

Last night she asked if she could "just" take her wristlet with her iPhone and some money to pay for admission to the "dance."

Honey, you need to take your EpiPens. 

But they aren't serving food. 

You need to take your EpiPens. 

Silence. And tears. Many, many tears.

And so it begins - the push back about the EpiPens.

Look I get it. There isn't going to be any food at the event but what if there IS? What if they have a concession stand open? You need to carry your EpiPens at all times when you go somewhere. I know it's not "cool" when you're 12 and want to be like all the other kids but you aren't like all the other kids. 

You're different. You have food allergies. And you need to carry your EpiPens. 
Always. 

After the tears last night I tabled the discussion until this afternoon. I don't want to start down the path of not taking the EpiPens when she goes somewhere. It's not a good path to take.

Here's hoping reason will win out over "being cool."

Update: Olivia took her purse AND her EpiPens and all was well with the world. ;) 

The End of July

Yes, I know.
I was supposed to blog every single day this month.
But things happen.
Like being on crutches for the past three weeks...which somehow rendered me incapable of blogging.

Yep.
That's my excuse.

Anyway...here we are at the end of July.
This means school starts again IN THREE WEEKS.

How is that even possible? I swear summer break just started.

Anyway, I'm doing my best to "remain calm" about Olivia starting junior high (or as I like to call it 6th grade) in just a few weeks. She'll have her EpiPens with her at all times as the kids at the junior high are allowed to carry them!

And, based on a conversation I had today she might not be the only kid with food allergies in her grade. I had to call the school today regarding a snack that will be served at orientation in three weeks and the school secretary told me I was the "third or fourth" parent to call about peanut allergies in the 6th grade.

Now, I don't want to say this makes me happy - because it doesn't. Food allergies SUCK and I'd never wish them on anyone. But when I told Olivia about it she said "oh good!" ... I think she's hoping to connect with some other kids who have the same issues with food. Ever since second grade she's been one of only two kids in her grade with food allergies.

And I can guarantee I was the only vocal parent when it came to food allergies in her grade.

Me? I'm just eager (and a bit anxious) to see how the junior high handles food allergies. Here's hoping it won't be a battle at every turn.