Grandparents Day?

I joined the PTA in order to see how our local school operates. And having a child with a Peanut Allergy has made me worry about her attending that school, especially when I found out that they do not have an allergy policy.

 

At our latest meeting we began discussing plans for the upcoming Grandparents Day. Now being called VIP Day.

 

Standard practice has been to have cookies for the Grandparents. And because of the nature of Grandparents, they tend to give the cookies to the children.  This act has caused a lot of conflict in the past and the proposed solution was to provide more cookies so all of the children can have them as well.

Apparently last year lead to Grandparents running their children down the halls to get cookies to take back to their class rooms.

 

When I suggest trying to do something other than cookies, one of the other moms said well they already eat snacks in the class rooms. Why not give them all cookies and let them walk around with them. Apparently there is a tour of the school and class rooms for the grandparents.

 

I so wish I could have put a thought together at that moment to suggest something non food related. We could have the students make a card or something else.

 

When she asked the principal if there had been food allergy issues in the past. His response was, "Yes we have kids attending with food allergies. We tell the kids to know their food allergy and avoid it."

I was so dumbfounded, I wanted to leave right then and there.  Our moderator seeing my face turning colors, ended the discussion and moved the group along.

 

At the end of the meeting I packed myself up and walked out without a word.  I collected my daughter and  left. I called my Husband from the car. I need to talk with someone who got it.

 

I have never wanted to deprive my daughter the opportunity to have a normal childhood,  including going to school,  but that meeting made me really start to consider if I should just home school. I know it's drastic, and I will probably get over it, but I could have never predicted that I would have such an up hill climb.

 

The entire school and community is very food focused. Pancake breakfasts, dinners at the fire house, a cake auction at the local fair, and bake sales everywhere. 

 

In a small town (population 800), where most people know everyone,  and we are the outsiders.  Most people do not want to make a fuss,  because they don't want to make waves. I guess I need to become the thunderstorms.  Wash away all the old out of date ideas and make positive changes for the future.

 

I called the bakery they plan on using and I was Informed that, "Even if the cookies are peanut free, they are still made in a bakery that uses nuts. Therefor they are not safe."