About a year ago someone gave Tyler a big inflatable Mr. Peanut. This person knows he is allergic to peanuts but probably wasn't thinking about it at that moment.I told myself I was being silly to take it away from him (it was plastic, of course!). Then my husband, who is usually not as uptight about Tyler's allergy (he takes it seriously just doesn't worry like I do), came home and asked what in the world Tyler was playing with. I explained the situation and he didn't like him playing with the silly thing either. After Tyler went to bed that night, I confiscated it and tucked it away in the basement.
I'm not sure why I even saved the thing. I thought about giving it to my niece who doesn't have a peanut allergy. Nevertheless, the thing has been hiding down in our storage room for over a year now.
Last week, in a desperate attempt to restore order in our storage room, I pulled everything out and went through it all. Guess who was waiting for me. Mr. Peanut!! Unfortunately Tyler was there when he made is ugly return.
Unlike last year when he received the thing, he fully understands his allergy now. Yet, he loves that thing! I tried reasoning with him. He kept saying, "But Mommy I love him!" Finally, the newness wore off and I put him back in the storage room. I hate throwing things away but this thing has to go! I know it sounds absurd that an inflatable toy freaks me out, but it does. My loathing of peanuts goes much deeper than the nut itself. It's anything that reminds me of it!
Who knew there could be so many silly things that can bring about anxiety of the mother of a peanut allergic child. No matter how many times I tell myself it's just a toy, it scares me to see him playing with it.
So, goodbye Mr. Peanut!! We don't want to ever see your face around here again!!
Photo courtesy of flickr
4 comments:
That's just kind of funny to me because I can relate...you know you could keep Mr Peanut for yourself and give him a good smack once in a while. I know my 3 year old (no known allergies yet) goes around saying "peanut butter sandwich!" because I guess he thinks it's a cuss word-my 5 year old is severely allergic. Sometimes I think I'm being too harsh on him to scold him for going around saying pb sandwich and laughing.... other parents would think I'm insane. :-P
K in NC
Oh man, I totally get this! I get the heebie-jeebies in the grocery store now when I see the jars and cans of peanuts, and last night I was reaching to get a plastic bag in the produce dept, and realized that my shirt was brushing up against bags full of peanuts in the shell. I almost freaked OUT in the produce dept. Thankfully my three year old was with me, so I had to keep my cool.
And btw, he (3 year old) is such a sweet little "protector" - "Mommy, those are peanuts... Martha can't have those... mommy those are peanuts..." On and on he went. Obviously we've made it VERY clear in our family that peanuts... they are bad.
I have a 5 yr old girl with peanut and tree nut allergies. I don't like seeing any type of nuts. When we were at the shore this summer, there was a candy shop on the boardwalk and they had someone dressed up in a Mr. Peanut costume. My daughter pointed and said, I don't go there, he will make me sick.
Hi Robyn,
I love your blog, and I too I hate Mr. Peanut!!!!!
I wrote a long rambling explanation of why I hate the evil legume. http://peanutfreegallery.blogspot.com/search/label/Mr.%20Peanut
Keep up the fight against Mr. Peanut !! he he he
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