If you read this blog regularly, you know that I like to focus from time to time on the benefits of having a peanut allergy. Yes, it sounds crazy to actually say there are benefits, but there are!!
A life-threatening food allergy turns communication into a life saving skill.
Tyler was slightly speech delayed until this past year. I had to work even harder with him to teach him how to protect himself. Pronouncing things like "No peanuts" and "I'm allergic" were difficult. With lots of practice, he's an expert now.
Tyler is four and a half now and has become his own advocate since this time last year. We are constantly talking. We don't always just talk about his allergies, of course! Sometimes we talk about important things like Sesame Street and playing outside.
The point is, however, his allergy keeps the dialogue open. His survival depends on it. I am not the type of person that doesn't talk but if I were, I would simply have to change.
The communication we establish now will last a lifetime. As he gets older, we will keep talking to help him to further understand his allergy. And, as he enters his teenage years in eight and a half years (shudder), that dialogue and bond that we have established now will still be there.
Would we be as close as we are now if it weren't for his food allergies? I certainly hope so! But, his allergies have created a unique advocacy bond between us that I don't have with my non food allergy child (Dylan and I have our own "special things.")
Do you find a special level of communication with your food allergic child?
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1 comments:
Sometimes I feel silly talking to my two year old in the store. I know people over hear me and probably think I am over protective or a bit neurotic.
I will say "Be careful, there are peanuts there." or "Don't touch that it has peanuts in it." Even if it is a packaged product I try to keep his hands from touching it. And his hands move fast and touch everything.
He will sometimes answer "Nuts" or "No nuts." But I know he doesn't understand what it all means.
I do it more for me so that when he does understand I will already be in the habit of steering him clear of things until he can read, ask questions and fend more for himself.
Emily
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