Parenting a Middle Schooler with Food Allergies
Kathy Kaufield’s new piece on “The Angst of Parenting a Child with Severe Food Allergies” details how scary it can feel to let a child with food allergies become more independent. Small mistakes–a normal part of growing up–can have massive consequences when it comes to the wrong bite of food.
I haven’t been where Ms. Kaufield’s daughter is yet, since my allergic child is only eight, but I appreciate where Ms. Kaufield is coming from. This article is a good reminder that allergies offer challenges at each age and stage. I often think back on those terrifying first few months after our kid’s diagnosis, when I felt I had to learn an entirely new way of dealing with food, cooking and shopping, and breathe a sigh of relief that we’re not at the beginning of the steep learning curve anymore, but that doesn’t mean it still isn’t hard for families like ours and the Kaufields.