Oh well, I had planned on packing his lunch anyway.  I guess since so many
folks react sceptically when I explain the seriousness of my sons allergies,
that I jumped to conclusions when I thought someone might be taking it
seriously.  My sister's children go to the same school and prefer to pack
their lunches.   Our preschool experience has been so positive I suppose I
was feeling to optomistic.  They take his allergy very seriously.  I took
them Helen Fernety's wonderful handout for teachers.  They copied the
ingredient list provided and taped it up in his classroom and in their
kitchen.  Of course my son is his own best defence.  He won't eat anything
unless the ingredients can be checked.  He told me last week he had to
remind the teacher.  His teacher says the other kids don't seem to care that
Zane gets a different snack...I know Zane doesn't care.  Its not a big deal
for him.  It won't be a hardship providing snacks/lunches when he starts
kindergarden ...its what we've done all along for every gathering/party.
Its worth having the peace of
      -----Original Message-----
From: Trish <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, March 20, 1998 1:26 AM
Subject: Re: Close calls and food allergies...


>Carmen,
>
>You'll <sarcasm on> love <sarcasm off> the purpose of this form, because
>it has absolutely nothing to do with what you and your child need.  The
>form is to protect the school from accusations that they are permitting
>your child, when purchasing a school lunch, to eat a nutritionally
>"unbalanced" meal by substituting juice for milk.
>
>Here in Florida, the school nutritionists depend very heavily on milk to
>provide given calories and nutrition.  Take it away by substituting
>juice, and they are not providing much healthy food at all.  There are
>quite a few non-allergic children out there who do not care to "drink
>their milk".  The school wants to keep these children from "cheating"
>and buying juice instead.  The doctor's note is requested to keep the
>numbers of these "cheating" children down.  The children who do not have
>doctor's notes are not permitted to select juice instead of the milk
>that comes with their lunch.  Unbelievably, they actually keep the
>doctor's notes on file in the cafeteria!
>
>I am fortunate that my child is (apparently) only lactose intolerant,
>but of course our physician was willing to give us the note.  My son
>would rather have his fingernails removed than choke down milk -
>anything with milk in it tastes repulsive to him, and he is 100%
>accurate.  (Except he acquired an unfortunate taste for American cheese
>years ago, when new-hired day care workers forced him to eat grilled
>cheese sandwiches or mac&cheese, even though I had standing arrangements
>with the cook to fix frozen meals which I provided on those days.)
>
>But the school does not care that my child subsequently does not receive
>adequate amounts of calcium, fat, etc in the school lunch he is
>permitted by doctor's note to purchase.  They are not directed to
>provide meals to suit the nutritional needs of "exceptional" children.
>So we're on our own.  (keep in mind that 30% of the children at our
>schools are on free or reduced price lunch - the phrase oft quoted is
>"for some of these children, this will be the only decent meal they will
>get all day."  I suppose I can be glad for those kids, and continue
>packing my son's lunch.  Sigh.)
>
>Trish
>
>> ------------------------------
>> Today I received a form in the mail
>> requesting a physician sign and verify Milk Allergy/Intolerance to make
>> dietary substitution. [snip]  This sounds
>> like they would try to provide a milk free alternative...I'm thrilled,
but I
>> also realize I might be being over optomistic.  Whatever...they're taking
>> this seriously! Yes!
>>
>> Carmen Simon
>
>Kathy wrote:
>> Carmen,
>> No offense, but don't count on it.  A classroom teacher is very
>> different from the health nurse who is different yet from the food
>> service staff.  You may get one to take you seriously, but I doubt all.
>> I was a teacher and know all too well how most schools operate in
>> confusion and denial in regards to allergies.
>>
>