Wanting to be Home Free

Thursday was Katherine's school Easter Party. (And yes, around here it's still known as an Easter Party, not a Spring Party.) The mother in charge of the party called me weeks in advance to figure out what a safe snack would be for both K. and N., her peanut-allergic friend. N's mother and I gave the same suggestion of a common cookie dough found in both of our local stores. I hope K. and N. are in class together for many years to come!

At 9:30 pm the night before the party, the mother in charge called me. She had just heard from the mother who was supposed to bring the sweet treat. Apparently, this mother couldn't find the brand of cookie dough we recommended and was going to make homemade cookies instead. M., the mom in charge, called to apologize and to let me know in case I wanted to send something for K. other than her usual freezer cookie/cupcake. Very, very nice of the mother in charge, but a perfect illustration of how things can change at the last minute, no matter how far ahead you plan.

This was the same week I received three boxes of HomeFree cookies for our family to try: Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Soft Oatmeal, and Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies. They are peanut free, egg free, tree nut free, and dairy free, and are labeled as such in very clear, very plain English right at the top of the box. (There is no wheat in the cookies, either, although the oatmeal package notes that oats can sometimes contain traces of wheat. There is soy lecithin in the chocolate chip cookies.) Most importantly, they are GOOD. The Chocolate Chocolate Chip and Chocolate Chip cookies taste like Chips Ahoy, only better. (This is my review, of course. K. has never had a Chips Ahoy.) She just thinks they're great, especially the Chocolate Chocolate Chip. And the mini cookies are so much fun! That is something that's hard to reproduce in my own kitchen. There is just something about a wee little cookie that is perfect for tea parties and lunch boxes... or for a special treat at an Easter Party.

I wish HomeFree treats were in our local stores and in our schools. They're good, they're clearly labeled, and they're kid friendly. They are organic and are made in a dedicated bakery. The company was founded by Jill Robbins, who is a mother and a clinical psychologist. The company's slogan is "delicious treats that kids with food allergies can enjoy along with everyone else." That about sums it up.

The cookies are $5.49/box and can be ordered through HomeFree Treats' store. Food service-sized boxes of individually-wrapped cookies are also available. Images are courtesy of homefreetreats.com.

Katherine chose to have one of her freezer treats at the party, and N.'s mom provided fruit kabobs for the healthy snack. During the party, one of the mothers offered K. one of the unsafe cookies, but she refused. But what if the mother hadn't called? I would have sent K. off to school telling her that the cookie was safe.

I realize that mothers want to provide beautiful homemade treats for their children, but in doing so at school, other children are being left out and are being put in a potentially dangerous situation. I wish more people would think about that and would consider providing a safe, store-bought treat like these great cookies.



This review was written for Go Dairy Free.

Props for Teacher

For the second year in a row, Katherine's class has collected the most box tops for the PTO. (No thanks to me.) Last year, they won a popcorn party, so I sent in a bag of dairy-free microwave popcorn for her to eat. This year, they won a pizza party. *Sigh*

Before I could figure out a plan B (like sending in a piece of cold dairy-free pizza), Katherine's teacher phoned me to see what we could work out.

Teacher: Is there a place in town that makes pizza that's safe for Katherine?

Me: Yes, it's [Pizza Place] and she can eat their regular pizza with no cheese. They're the only place in town that has never messed up our order.

Teacher: Well, they're going to be getting a lot more business from the school because of it.
[PTO Lady] said she was going to order all the pizzas with cheese and my student could just pick it off, but I told her that wouldn't work. I said I would call you to see what we could work out.

Me: Thank you for being so vigilant!

Teacher: Sure. Now I'm going to call [Mother of Student with Peanut Allergy] and make sure that pizza is safe for her, too.

You rock, Teacher!!!

The Price of Religious Freedom, First Grade-Essay Format

"If I were a Pilgrim I would milk the cows. And I would play marbles. I would not like to be a Pilgrim. I would have to wear lots of clothes."

Firsts

Katherine took her first communion yesterday and also lost her first tooth. If I were a certain type of writer, I would compose a thoughtful, heartfelt piece about the passing of time and the many ways our little ones are growing up. I would tell you how I felt full of joy at the sight of her serious face concentrating on her thimbleful of grape juice, and I would tell you how I felt helpless at the pre-tooth loss tears. "I don't want my tooth to come out!"
And, I would tell you that a little part of me didn't want Katherine's first baby tooth to come out, either. I would tell you about my sadness over the loss of that particular little smile. But helping our children change and grow is part of our job, so I would tell you that in the morning I reminded her to sit quietly in church during the communion service, and that in the evening I gently grasped the loose baby tooth and helped her pull it out.

Schooled

Nowheymama is happy to present Katherine's first week of school, the semi-condensed version.

August 29: Met with Katherine's teacher, the Kindergarten secretary (our school district has a Kindergarten-only center), and the school district nurse (one nurse for five school buildings spread across town). Was less than pleased when the nurse said, "It's so nice to meet you," and I had to remind her that we've met. And spoken on the phone. Several times. Although Nurse had initially been the most helpful (as compared to Principal, who was absent from the meeting, and Superintendent's office), in this meeting she was obstructionist. She was concerned about the medications (Benadryl, TwinJect, and hydrocortisone) being in the classroom. Teacher wanted them in the classroom and was fine with it.
Nurse: "I just don't want to have to create a new policy for first grade, second grade and so on. I think whatever we do this year should be the policy from now on."
Nowheymama: "Yes, that's why the medication needs to be in the classroom as her doctor stated in his letter, the original copy of which you should have in Katherine's file."
(Don't mess with a protective mama and her raging pregnancy hormones, lady.)
Nurse "introduced" me to FAAN and remarked on how helpful their information is. "This document lists all of the stages of reaction you were just talking about, Mrs. Hatfield!" You don't say. I agreed that they are quite helpful, and hopefully did not express inner sarcasm.
Teacher was totally on my wavelength and was suggesting things before I could. I will go on all field trips. I will help with all classroom parties/activities. I will provide foods for K. to have during birthday parties, etc. Teacher will leave a note taped to her desk detailing K's allergy for any substitute teachers, and Secretary knows the treatment procedures, as does the teacher in the next classroom. Teacher encouraged me to call anytime and assured me she will do the same. I leave the meeting feeling hopeful.

August 30: Katherine and I attend Kindergarten orientation, which has been shortened to 45 minutes from its usual 90-minute length. I give Teacher K's box of meds, turn in the FAAN Food Allergy sheet to Nurse, and get clearance forms from Secretary. The chaos of the event worries me a bit, and I decide to speak with Teacher the next morning before school when I drop off K. Today is also K's sixth birthday. Apparently, we are "redshirting." Who knew? But I say this: her birthday is close to the cutoff date, and I wanted her to have another year to learn about her allergy before we sent her to school. Her understanding has increased so much. She sometimes even double-checks if something has dairy when I give it to her. This breaks my heart, but it also makes me so proud. This is what parents want: independent, free-thinking children who know how to care for themselves.

September 4: Scott and I drop off Katherine for her first day of school. After leaving her in the bus hall, I give the dairy-free snacks and my clearance forms to Secretary. I ask to read the labels on the crackers and pretzels Teacher keeps in her room. Secretary can't find them, so we go find Teacher, who tells me the brands. (They are fine.) Teacher asks what she can give Katherine for a reward instead of M&Ms. We agree on Skittles. I express concern about food on the bus that will take K. home. Secretary says she will call the transportation office. I tell Teacher that there are students from K's preschool in her class, and I worry that their parents might say something is safe for K. when it is not.
Teacher: "They think they understand."
Nowheymama: "Yes."
Teacher: "I will only listen to you."
Teacher reiterates that she will be calling me often, and I say call anytime.
I go home and spend Eli's naptime making a wreath (a wreath!) for the front door because I can't concentrate on anything else.
Katherine comes home on the school bus (We're letting her ride home because it's Kindergarten students only on a "van," otherwise known as a "short bus.") I reiterate the information about her allergy to her bus driver, who replies that he doesn't allow any food on his bus. Period.
Katherine loves school, she had a great time, and they had cookies for a special treat. "All the other kids had a different kind, but I had one of the special ones you sent, Mama. And guess what? I didn't feel itchy at all, all day!" Whew.

September 5, 6, 7: School continues to go well with Katherine eating only the snack I send for her each day. She loves school and wants Daddy to take her "as early as we can go" every morning. Eli is not adjusting so well. He can't wait to greet his sister as she gets off the bus, and was very angry with her the first day of school. As they almost never fight, we were surprised to see him haul off and hit her. I explained to a tearful Katherine that this was his way of saying he missed her and was sad that she left to go to school. He's gotten better each day.

So, the first week of school went well. I hope the rest of the year goes as smoothly.

Happy Sixth Birthday

How is it that you are six?

What a perfect birthday. Your first school bus ride, a tour of your new school, and meeting your teachers and classmates. Then, dinner with your family and your grandparents: your favorite pizza (bacon, no cheese) and Daddy's pineapple upside-down cake, followed by water "tea" in your new tea set.

Happy Birthday, Baby.