20:54 I feel so sorry for your kids and family.

Honey, this was not nasty by any means. Sheesh...get real this normal banter. Nasty would've called you a nut case by the third post.

The responses were not nasty. She asked if the children can independently manage their own allergies by then and the answer, in various forms, was yes. If you are that concerned OP, then please talk to your doctor, and perhaps your area middle schools and high schools. Seriously though, children that age, are able to handle it just fine.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guys, lay off. I suspect OP is a parent with a small child who has allergies and she's just asking a question. She may not know how responsible an 11 year old can be.

Thanks! Couldn't even believe the negative and nasty responses when all that was asked was what the deal was in middle school. Just trying to learn and prepare for the future and a pack of frothing-at-the-mouth bitches descended upon me!!

The responses were not nasty.

They were direct, knowledgeable, and very helpful. They were written by people with perspective and experience.

If you are this defensive and sensitive about your child's allergies, you are going to have a difficult time advocating for your child and being taken seriously by other parents and school administrators.

Not OP- I found the responses to be quite nasty.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guys, lay off. I suspect OP is a parent with a small child who has allergies and she's just asking a question. She may not know how responsible an 11 year old can be.

Thanks! Couldn't even believe the negative and nasty responses when all that was asked was what the deal was in middle school. Just trying to learn and prepare for the future and a pack of frothing-at-the-mouth bitches descended upon me!!

The responses were not nasty.

They were direct, knowledgeable, and very helpful. They were written by people with perspective and experience.

If you are this defensive and sensitive about your child's allergies, you are going to have a difficult time advocating for your child and being taken seriously by other parents and school administrators.

Anonymous wrote:Guys, lay off. I suspect OP is a parent with a small child who has allergies and she's just asking a question. She may not know how responsible an 11 year old can be.

Thanks! Couldn't even believe the negative and nasty responses when all that was asked was what the deal was in middle school. Just trying to learn and prepare for the future and a pack of frothing-at-the-mouth bitches descended upon me!!

Trash food? How so? They're legumes full of protein and other nutrients.

peanuts are pretty much trash food, they shouldn't be allowed anways

Guys, lay off. I suspect OP is a parent with a small child who has allergies and she's just asking a question. She may not know how responsible an 11 year old can be.

I agree by the time the child gets to ms/hs they pretty much police themselves. Usually, I have seen where their group of friends will advocate for their allergic buddy. Also, just by chance by the time your child gets to ms/hs they might out-grow that allergy. Fingers-crossed.

OP, maybe you should also research nut free colleges and work places for your child.

Please teach your child to take care of him/herself. A middle schooler is able to fully understand the dangers, speak up for himself and then take action if something happens.

Signed,
mom of a peanut allergic high schooler who knows how to advocate for herself.

Really, by that age the kid should be able to avoid eating food that other people provide. They should also be able to read labels.

If your child cannot handle that as a teen, then perhaps you should consider homeschooling.

If your child is having problems following basic allergy safety, have you considered sharing with him the tragic story of the young teen who passed this past summer at camp after eating rice crispy treats tainted with peanuts?

I shared that story with my older pre-teen as an example of why he cannot trust even "safe" foods provided by someone else. I know at that age, they sometimes want to fit in more than they want to be safe. I think it helped to bring the point home.

Your child must learn to manage his own allergy. As a teen, he is going to have so many opportunities to be on his own, around food that you have not provided.

Expecting nut free tables...which he will likely avoid like the plague as a middle schooler...is not a way to make him safe. It is only going to lull you into a false sense of security.

I know that Deal is not nut free.

I know many elementary schools are nut-free or at least have nut-free tables in the cafeteria. What's the story with Middle and High schools? Do they do the same or are kids supposed to manage their nut allergies more independently by then?