So I get an email last night from one of my new K teachers, telling me that one of her students is to have "no dairy products at all, under ANY circumstances", per mom at pick-up yesterday. I of course start panicking, thinking I missed it on the health form. We provide school lunch for all students for free, and have a few with dairy/egg allergies that we order a special egg free/dairy free meal for.
So I just get to work and run to my files and pull our the bright orange sheet that all parents fill out. Allergies? NO. Food sensitivities? NO. OK, so I am feeling like at least my butt is covered. Then I look at the signed health form from physician. Allergies? NO. Hmmmmmm...
I just spoke with mom. She says "Oh, it isn't that she is allergic, it's that I am a vegan and would prefer she not have any dairy products, or any animal products". So I tell her that unfortunately, while our meal service can provide a vegetarian option and an egg free/dairy free option, there is no vegan option. She says no problem, I have been packing her a lunch every day so it is fine. So then I say "And what would you like us to do when a child brings in cake/cupcakes for a birthday celebration"? She says "Oh, then it's fine and she can have one- I don;t want her to feel left out". Is it just me that finds this completely ridiculous? This picking and choosing drives me NUTS. If you are going to make a huge stink about your snowflake consuming anything with a drop of dairy, then why is it suddenly OK for her to have cakes and cupcakes????
I made an announcement at our back to school night that we have a TRUE peanut allergy (every other "peanut allergy" student eats Chick Fil A every week) and I got nasty responses from parents that I would say such a thing. Now I have a list of these sensitivities that do not need the nut free table. Uh, I knew that! I really believe parents nowadays want a diagnosis to have their child stand out.
Welcome back Mr Nurse!
And the reason we have to say things like a "true allergy", is because we have parents who think a stomach ache after a PB&J means their child is deathly allergic to Peanuts.
Is it just me that finds this completely ridiculous? This picking and choosing drives me NUTS. If you are going to make a huge stink about your snowflake consuming anything with a drop of dairy, then why is it suddenly OK for her to have cakes and cupcakes????
WineRN
1,109 Posts
Welcome back Mr Nurse!
And the reason we have to say things like a "true allergy", is because we have parents who think a stomach ache after a PB&J means their child is deathly allergic to Peanuts.