Talking Allergies

The mother of a girl in my daughters ballet class told me monday that she has special bags of stickers and other non-food goodies for my daughters. A few weeks ago she asked if I drove my daughters around to peoples houses we know to trick or treat. I said yes, we go to my moms and to a friends house who makes a special loot bag for them. But, that is about it. She lives between my house and my friends house, so she figured it wouldn't be to far out of the way to hit her house, so she put together lootbags too. I thought that she was really thoughtful, especially since she is pregnant and over due. She was due last saturday, but said that regardless of where she is, her mother (from out of town) will be at her house handing out treats and to stop by.

What a sweet and thoughtful lady. You are lucky to know her.

It's so wonderful and thoughtful when people extend themselves in this way... I met a woman recently who has since become a good friend who also showed this kind of caring. She is always checking with me about ingredients / foods that my son can have - is calling companies about possible cross-contamination etc. and giving me information. So much more than even some family members have done. My son and her son will be going out trick-or-treating together this year and she's made sure that all of the candy she's handing out is "peanut and nut free" (my son's allergy) and while I know that this doesn't help all food allergic children - it's definitely a step in the right direction.

Also, the ideas given here about posting a sign on Hallowe'en asking food allergic children to identify themselves and having non-food treats for those children is a fantastic idea and something I'll definitely be doing.

Tonight while handing out treats, I had the door open and some kids threw eggs at the kids trick or treating at my door. My front porch was covered in eggs, it splashed on me (on clothes and hair )and it was all over my stucco. All night my daughters were handing out treats. What if my egg allergic daughter was at the door when this happened. I was really mad about the whole situation. Many of my neighbors came over to clean it up. They know that my daughter and husband are allergic, so they wanted to help clean it up, so we wouldn't have to risk it getting on us. Gotta love hallowe'en.

I did hand out three bags of assorted non-food treats to allergic children. One boy who was allergic to nuts was very excited to get something special. He went running from my door to his parents shouting "I got a flashlight, and activity pages and some other cool stuff!!!"

A few families on my street also had special stuff for my kids. They each got a coloring book, stickers, hallowe'en toys and even money from one lady who remembered when my kids were at her door that they have allergies and she had nothing for them.

You, your Husband and children are having a hard time with the these "Holidays".
We do not have the egg allergy, touch wood. We were egged in July by some young boys. That is really awful what was done to your home and even the other children going to your home. You seem to have some nice neighbours though....
Kelly

I am very sorry to hear that. I am very, very sad in my heart for you and your family.

There was a group of about 8 kids at my door when the egging happened. The kids were older, about 11 or 12 and they thought that they knew who did it. It was an attack on older kids and not our house personally...or I would be worried it would happen again. I made sure to ask the group if they were okay, or if any of them had an egg allergy. Fortunately, none of them did. It does however make me concerned for my daughter and other egg allergic kids while out on halloween. I would hate for any kid with an egg allergy to get egged by other kids!!!

Note to self...trick or treat early, be home by dark, always go with daughters even when they are 12. I could always wear a mask so I look like a kid out trick or treating so I don't embarass them.

Just wanted to "bump" this up given the time of year...
My son is already talking about the "Great Pumpkin" and what he'll leave for him in exchange for his peanut/nut treats .

Saskmommy,
I know we have similar alleregies with our kids. In your post you mentioned hickorey sticks. I didn't realize that these were safe. Thanks for the idea. We too do the Great Pumpkin thing adn my kids love it.
Stephanie

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myself -Shell Fish, asthma, environmental allergies
Husband - Environmental allergies
7 year old- peanut, environmental
5 year old- eggs, nuts, fish, peas, environmental, and asthma.

Has anyone seen the new Nestle commercial? I caught just the tail end of it, but my son keeps seeing it and thinks it's great everytime.

Something to do with people in costume going into Nestle, and security stops a ghost. When they take off the sheet it's a peanut.

(I'm hearing this from an eight year old who can't stop laughing, so it might be confused.) Sounds cute anyway.

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self: allergy to sesame seeds and peanuts
3 sons each with at least one of the following allergies: peniciilin, sulfa-based antibiotic, latex, insect bites/stings

Yes Anna - I saw it the other night...very cute.

The other thing that has really helped make Halloween easier is to make sure everyone is full of their dinner before we go, otherwise everyone wants to eat the treats on the way.

That's a good idea, Pam. I should make sure they get a cupcake for dessert as well before they go out so they've had enough sugar to last the night (maybe)!!

K.

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Karen, proud Mom of
- DS1 (12 yrs): allergic to cashews, pistachios, Brazil nuts, potatoes, some legumes, some fish, pumpkin seeds; OAS
- DS2 (1o yrs): ana. to dairy, eggs, peanuts; asthma

I'm pretty excited about Halloween this year. We've introduced the idea of the Great Pumpkin to our daughter and she's pretty excited about it. I'm also going to be buying non-food treats for anyone with a food allergy. I have no idea how many we may have in the neighbourhood though.

I also saw at Costco that Play-doh has a bag of 80 tiny containers for about $12 for Halloween. I was happy to see that. Not so good for wheat allergies I know but it's not food!

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4ye old DD allergic to sesame, peanut, raw egg , and mulitple environmental & seasonal allergies

2 yr old DS -no known allergies!

I saw the Nestle commercial yesterday and it's hilarious!! Love it.

I've bought orange and brown Halloween Smarties to shell out this year. My 15 year-old is now too old and too cool to go trick or treating They grow up too fast! Mind you, she'll be dipping in her sister's treats, I'm sure.

I'm surprised you guys can get your kids to eat before trick or treating, mine were way too excited when they were little!

I saw these cute individually wrapped Halloween treats from Vadeboncoeur at Shoppers. Each individual wrap has the mention "Peanut/nut free factory" or something like that.

However, I really like the idea of non-food treats for Halloween. It's brilliant.

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15 year old - asthmatic, allergic to cats, dogs, horses, waiting to be "officially" diagnosed for anaphylaxis
12 year old - asthmatic, allergic to tree pollen and mold, OAS
Husband - Allergic to amoxycillin
Self - Allergic to housework only