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My son has MANY food related allergies. He starts K next week and has met his teacher [She seems very patient and outgoing]. They have a snack assigned to be brought in daily by a different class member. I kindly explained he is not to eat or drink anything brought in because I'm taking no chances. I also inquired if he could bring in an apple instead [he eats 2 apples almost daily] and she said no special treats. I understand why if it was something chocolate or "truly special" but an apple??? So now each day he will sit and watch the other kids eat when he did nothing wrong. Should this bother me?
Also within his allergies certain cleaners can cause a reaction and those are on the supply list. How can I assume they are not using ANY of those products..they already are 'hasseled' and it's not even day one. Am I mom from hell or do I have a valid point to know, ask, and be concerned!?
Thoughts...Advice...Stories to share?? Thanks in advance, I will try and reply to all.
Get a doctor's note and be insistent. I am quite sure no school wishes a lawsuit, so if you need to, include that you will be conferring with your attorney.
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Hmmm. This is tough. You're either the "mom from hell" as you state, or your son is at risk for a severe allergic reaction being out in public. I think you are reasonable in asking that your son be allowed to bring an apple if he is truly allergic to common snack items, and I'm sure the nurse/principal will back you up on that one.
The requirement that you be informed of what cleaning products are used in the school is unreasonable and not likely to be effective, IMHO. Teachers may bring their own cleaning products/air fresheners, and school districts are likely to offer an enormous array of products to their custodians, so that knowing all the products used is impossible.
I would strongly advise against threatening a lawsuit before your child's school career has even begun.
I would be interested in further information about your son's allergies. Are they to the extent that he will require an epipen in the classroom and at the nurse's office for his immediate use at school? Do you carry an epipen when you go out in public?
Get a doctor's note and be insistent. I am quite sure no school wishes a lawsuit, so if you need to, include that you will be conferring with your attorney.
Yeah, that is a great way to introduce yourself to the school community and make sure your child has lots of friends. Great advice...
When we had to bring in snacks to share there was a very distinct list of what you could bring, brand names included, for allergy safety reasons. Is there such a list for his class? If so, ask to see it and make sure it is enforced. If not, well...if your sons safety is at stake, you have to be THAT parent. There should be absolutely NO reason he could not bring a safe snack to eat during snack time. I have a first grader in a Montessori school, so they eat their own snacks when they are hungry rather than as a group... and I still have a list of what is safe for him to bring for himself. It isn't shared anymore so it mostly avoids PB residue on tables.
A doctors note and insistence that he bring an apple. If that doesn't work, go above the teacher. Threatening with lawyers would be way out of hand, but if you continue to meet resistance something at that school needs to change. There is no way they don't have other students in the same boat. Find other parents and push for change.
This should already have been addressed with the school. They are legally required to make reasonable accommodations for him, and things like bringing in an apple certainly is reasonable. There should be a formal action plan in place already. Have you met the with school (not individual teacher) about this yet?
I would insist that he bring his own healthy snack daily, and be excluded from the group snacks. I don't understand why this is even an issue. (And I am speaking as a former kindergarten teacher.)
As for the allergy to cleaners- does he have to touch it? Or if it was used to clean a surface after school, would it cause a reaction the next day? What level of contact is needed would determine how I would handle this.
My students, even 5th graders, never handled real cleaners. Baby wipes only. If I wanted to use something stronger, I cleaned up after school.
you know sometimes this is always an issue in public schools . my sister had the same problem so she enrolled her child in a catholic school and funny how she never had another problem like certain foods , cleaners etc ... I think I would let him take the apple anyways and if she takes it away from him then you go straight to the principal and ask the principal if they can afford a lawsuit against the county , state and anyone else whom your attorney deems responsible .I bet you , your child will be allowed an apple then . Sometimes you just have to show them who hold the cards so to speak .
This should already have been addressed with the school. They are legally required to make reasonable accommodations for him, and things like bringing in an apple certainly is reasonable. There should be a formal action plan in place already. Have you met the with school (not individual teacher) about this yet?
No I haven't met with the school, I feel defeated already by his teachers response. I don't plan to be difficult but anyone who has seen a severe allergic reaction in person knows how serious the situation is. Normally he only breaks out in hives with exposure to orange oil cleansers..but I don't want to leave anything to chance.. in general you don't realize how many products contain natural orange juice/oils! And we have been to the ER 3x because his eyes swelled shut within 10 minutes of the first bite..
I would insist that he bring his own healthy snack daily, and be excluded from the group snacks. I don't understand why this is even an issue. (And I am speaking as a former kindergarten teacher.)
As for the allergy to cleaners- does he have to touch it? Or if it was used to clean a surface after school, would it cause a reaction the next day? What level of contact is needed would determine how I would handle this.
My students, even 5th graders, never handled real cleaners. Baby wipes only. If I wanted to use something stronger, I cleaned up after school.
It's everyone eats the snack brought in for the day or they don't get one. I'm not sure on the exposure level. He breaks out in hives at some local spots if they use orange oils in the restroom . But unsure in general.
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. But unsure in general.
