Help me I am begging you to give me your feedback!

As the last post  Hand outs to the parents and teachers stated I sent the teacher a letter explaining my child's needs and made simple send home info for the other parents. After asking a few parents it turns out the teacher never handed out the info to the parents with all the other forms during Open House.  I also have sat down with her explained my child's needs, how simple this is, how wonderful and supporting most of the other parents are.

On the first day of school the teacher requested we have a meeting after school ended that day (half day the first week). I went to the meeting where she said she and the principal felt for my daughter's safety it was best that I be the only one to supply her with a snack. To make sure that she knew the difference between her snack and her lunch and to make it healthy (did I mention it can only be store bought O_o. )

So after paying for all the tuition, all her uniforms not to mention shoes, socks, all her supplies and making sure she has Gluten free supplies, Trying to anticipate all of her art supply needs So I can order the gluten free versions of those and buying the Gluten free shopping guide for the teacher thinking she would actually use it.  I have spent a lot of money.

Now My daughter having gone to school with many of these children last year at the same school is used to being able to eat snacks that are GF and eat the ones I provide when they are not.  So I tried to explain to my 5yr old how she would no longer be allowed to eat what other children brought in. I said that I would send her a snack everyday and she would eat that instead. She paused for a moment and was fine with it.

Today when I picked her up she starts chattering away about random important bits of her day. I was listening and it was a happy banter until  this came up My daughter (MD): Mommy they had Motts for snack today not the juice I know it is GF  the fruit snacks you need to check that in your book and see if it is gluten free.  Me: Did you have your banana chips?  MD: yeah I ate em all up.  Me:  Great! Did all of you wash your hands after you ate? MD:  We DIDN'T even wash them before! (I look at her in the rear view mirror hoping she is kidding. She is not. Me: So you used a wipe, germ X, or Purell.  She shakes her head no and then Says mama I think they were gluten free so you need to tell them. Me: baby you can not have what they are eating anymore. MD: Why mommy? Why not? (my heart breaking and years of teaching her she is the same as everyone else shattering as well) Me: Because you teacher says so. MD: Why Mama they didn't do this before why would she do this?  Me:  I don't know baby.


I am frustrated, angry, hurt, disappointed and want to do something.  I don't want to be rash in my decision and burn bridges where they need not be burned.  I want my child to be included and not ostracized though. I don't want her peers who go to school with each other for 10 yrs or more to look at her differently.  I don't want her to feel bad about yourself. I got her to stop saying I wish I was a gluten girl mommy and I don't want that back.

I see that while the teacher clearly made my daughter bring a snack for her safety she is not taking proper precautions to eliminate cross contamination. I think her explaining to me she would be put at a separate table with her GF playdough is what she thinks is the proper procedure even though I wrote what is and is not proper.  I had not gone to the school to ask them to provide GF lunches to be made available because they worked with me before and why push something when it is going so well.  Well now it is not going well and I want my child to be able to buy lunch if I am tired, sick, or just to have that experience in life.  They had bake sales all the time last year and will be setting up for ice cream and topping soon.  Well she should be able to enjoy that. Without it being cross contaminated.

I could save all the money we are spending and home school my child but there are always going to be these issues or people that pop up in life. She does not need a protective bubble she needs to learn how to function in the real world.   Like I told the teacher I am realistic there are times where I can not control if she gets gluten on her or in her. Then there are times that I choose to weigh if this life experience is worth putting up with the contamination fallout.

Thank you for reading through that here is my question. What would you do as a mother or parent if you were in my shoes? Would you try approaching the teacher again? Would you go to the principal? Would you get the laws to back you up?  Would you just look for another school?  I need some input from other people please.

Here is my official post on BAND-AID

After spending a great deal of time on the phone with the company today to find out if the products were Gluten free I can say that not all of them are.   I was hopeful to believe that all of them were like so many other sites had told me they were but this is why I like doing my own leg work when it comes to some products.  They do have some products that are in fact GF.  It is also easier if you call in with a specific product to ask them about.  

I get asked what gluten and Celiac disease are almost everyday

I really don't mind being asked.  I would rather have someone ask me then be afraid to ask me fearing it was rude.  IMO It is not rude!  No one can know everything in this world.  Pretending that you do know what something is when you don't can get someone hurt. So I appreciate it when another parent takes the time out of their life to ask what gluten is or what things she can or can not have.  I think it would be rude of me not to explain what they are or become upset when asked.

I would like to give a good explanation here so people can always come here to figure out what it is.  I hope to give you several links to read and explain in my own words as well.   Please feel free to post any comments of your own.

Gluten, in its most simplest definition, is a kind of protein that tends to exist in wheat, barley, and rye among other carbohydrates. Gluten comes from the Latin word Gluten meaning "glue" .  It gives elasticity to dough, helping it to rise and to keep its shape, and often giving the final product a chewy texture.


It is important to know that Food is not the only place that Gluten is found.  Gluten can be in: Soaps, Shampoo, Alcohol, Pet food, Pet Shampoos, Make up, and many more If you plan to have someone in your  life regularly and want close contact with them don't be offended if they ask what make up or any other items listed you use.  Some Celiacs suffer from more severe or different sensitivity then others. So they may not be bothered at all.  Mine daughter is bothered by skin products though so it is something I do have to ask or I send soaps and shampoos with her.  I have even brought our own laundry and dish soaps with us while traveling to keep this to a minimum. 


Some helpful sites to understanding more about gluten 

• How gluten is used
• gluten what you don't know might kill you

Some helpful sites if you are having someone with Celiac disease or anyone eating GF over and want to know what they can and can not have 

• http://www.csaceliacs.org/gluten_grains.php

Understanding Celiac disease better


Celiac disease is a digestive condition triggered by consumption of the protein gluten, which is found in bread, pasta, cookies, pizza crust and many other foods containing wheat, barley or rye. If you have celiac disease and eat foods containing gluten, an immune reaction occurs in your small intestine, causing damage to the surface of your small intestine and an inability to absorb certain nutrients. It really destroys the  villi—the tiny, fingerlike protrusions lining the small intestine. Villi normally allow nutrients from food to be absorbed through the walls of the small intestine into the bloodstream. Without healthy villi, a person becomes malnourished, no matter how much food one eats
Eventually, the decreased absorption of nutrients (malabsorption) that occurs with celiac disease can cause vitamin deficiencies that deprive your brain, peripheral nervous system, bones, liver and other organs of vital nourishment. This can lead to other illnesses and stunted growth in children.

No treatment can cure celiac disease. However, you can effectively manage celiac disease through changing your diet.


Along with Celiac disease comes many other problems so please ask if there are any other dietary restrictions. 


  


FRUITS:
All fruits are gluten-free (unless they have been combined with or are packaged with gluten containing ingredients)
BEVERAGES:
water, water, water, 100% juices, milk, tea, coffee, and water :)


VEGETABLES:
All vegetables are gluten-free (Be cautious of floured or breaded vegetables, or those in sauces) 

Please note that you can buy all the expensive food you want for when your friends come over but if you put the GF bread into your toaster that you use for your bread It has now been contaminated and can NOT be eaten.  If you are wanting to use p-nut butter buy a small new jar for them to use so that the crumbs from your bread are not in it causing the food you cooked to be contaminated.  

It really is not that hard once you know what you are looking for.  Many items can be bought at your local store that are GF.  Many people that have Celiac disease bring food that they can eat and that others will like as well when they go to public functions.  Just keep in mind to use the utensil for their food only and not mix and match.  I never show up somewhere expecting people to cater to my child's needs.  I am always grateful if they do but I think it is rude of me to EXPECT that of people.  I also bring enough of what I bring for my child for the others that will be there and I try to explain the handling procedures of the food so no cross contamination will take place.

Links to different safe food lists. Also just a good learning site in general.


There are more GF link listed on my Links page. Feel free to contact me with any information or questions that you have.  I am not a doctor and can not diagnose you sorry.  I am a mom with a blog trying to share her knowledge and make life a little easier for someone else.

GF Brownies in the oven

I could not find a recipe for GF peanut butter brownies so I am trying Namaste brownie mix with my Reese's Peanut butter cup Mix I make.  I asked DH (husband) to pick up eggs and he got substitute ones so instead of risking the 72 hrs of Gluten HELL!!!! I have also had to improvise on the recipe.  I will let you know how they turn out.