I totally get it--if your child does not have a food allergy you never have tothink about food allergies. Why would you? You don't have to think about whatis on the menu for lunch at school, who is bringing in a surprise snack, arethere crumbs on the bus on the way to the field trip, will he remember hisepi-pen when he goes to gym, recess or the park, did I remember to check theingredients on the new root beer slurpie at 7-11, will the bully at school texthim again today "the wheat monster is coming to get you!"?
Most of us know what our kids are capable of. We also all know that sometimes kids can be really, really mean--they call each other names, exclude at recessand on the weekends. For a food allergic kid being bullied takes on a whole newform of fear. in middle school it is probably common for one kid to sayto another, "your haircut is ugly, you are a fat Buddha, you don't knowhow to dress or you can't be part of our recess club." It crossesthe line when one kids says to another, "tonight I’m gonna shove a loaf ofwheat bread down your throat." or "the wheat monster is gonna get youtonight." taunting with a peanut butter sandwich--waving it incessantly infront of a peanut allergic child's face is another common and disturbing formof lunchroom bullying. Some parents view this as just more typical kidstuff--kids will be kids. I think it crosses the line.
Iassume we can all agree that bullying and name calling is hurtful and can leavelifelong impressions on a person. As parents we have the obligation to guideour children, to teach them to be kind--whether a child uses mainstreambullying techniques or crosses the line with serious threats--parents have tostop making excuses and empower their children to be up standers.
Ifwe don't accept the ignorant mentality of "all kids do stupid shit."or "it could have been my kid who threw the piece of pizza in Matthew’sface." maybe then we could pave the way towards teaching children to showkindness towards one another. Kids have to be trained and taught not only"do not to cross the line" but to stay far from it.
Clickon the link below to read more about bullying and food allergies--
GREAT BLOG.
No form of bullying should be allowed in schools. (Ours comes in the form of my kid "cheating" because s/he gets extra time to off set diagnosed learning disabilities.) The school has a responsibility to keep all children safe, and to have zero tolerance of bullying. If they don't step up, they are creating an envirnment which condones bullying.
Under the Americans With Disabilities Act (which would probably cover severe allergies for this purpose) schools have a legal duty to provide a safe environment for individuals coming under its protection.
(Toni)