Skip to main content

29, 30, 31

I love rainy days when staying at home has a reason other than recuperating from an allergic reaction or preventing one. Our lifestyle and perspectives are developed with food allergy safety being our first criteria. This is something we have honed in on and it is the greatest difference we have with everyone we know. It's a constant level of decision making that goes beyond general parenting. It's similar decisions that need reevaluation over and over again. We've had family in town and have managed to pull together to have fun and create safe environments while doing it. When people come together to help focus on similarities and not dwell on the differences, life is always beautiful. We are so blessed to have a family dedicated to making the efforts and loving us all through the gray areas. The biggest things we require are patience, understanding that our hearts are in the right place, and effort. We aren't on this journey alone because we all share the same world. We're truly grateful when ANYONE else sees that too. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Going Global With Food Allergies

Have you ever looked at a map of the world, all laid out in front you, and thought, "hmmm...where to go?" Even if you are an adventurous, free-spirited person, food allergies have a way of paralyzingly our curiosity through fear. The constant need to have to be aware of all of our surroundings, naturally develops into taking less unnecessary trips; Always packing our own food and knowing the specific details of the environments we plan to enter ahead of time. The lack of general knowledge of food allergies in the public can force us into creating our own safety bubble. It's a cause and effect reaction that can force families with very severe food allergies to first, find themselves excluded, and then inevitably, because of their previous absence, not given any consideration.  People and the public, in general, can become a safety hazard. To make matters even more difficult and suspect, food itself becomes a weapon because of cross contamination, poor labeling, and very l...

Blessings and Food Allergies

This past month has been busy! Our organization, Food Allergy Resources & Mentoring (FARM) ,had its 2015 5K themed "Nature vs. Nurture". After months of advocating for food allergies and the need for community awareness, then getting sponsorships from local businesses, the 5K happened! This year's was so amazing because the community really embraced our cause, and I really felt progress in our mission being made. The event was truly an experience from start to finish. The theme "Nature vs. Nurture" wasn't without cause. Our venue was at the Ritch Grissam Memorial Wetlands , a wildlife photographers haven. The off-road course was laid out among all of Florida's native wildlife, and Yes that meant alligators too. With a heightened sense of their surroundings, the race participants learned some eye opening food allergy statistics from posters held at each turn by our amazing volunteers. It was impossible to finish the race without a n...

Day 17

One of the worst words in our language, to me, is the word "normal". What is normal? I'm often consoled by and informed of people's sympathy to our milk-free household. It's perceived that we are not able to have a "normal" diet or do "normal" things. I always seem to receive these comments with a prickly undertone because, in our home, not having milk IS normal. Our normal may not be your normal or anyone else's for that matter. I do not feel like we're missing out on anything as far as not having milk containing substances in the house. Nowadays there are so many GREAT alternatives to everything that keep things safe for Sophia. There's nothing that I just can't live without when it comes to food. For me, peace of mind is my must-have and I don't think it's "normal" to compromise that. Another reason I don't like the word "normal" is the stigma it leaves on everything in its path. I'd lik...