The Learning Nook

I am feeling better today. D. is right - I know exactly what I need to do and I shouldn't worry about what others think. I obsess when I need to. Obviously, it works. Syd has had one reaction. Ever.

OK, so today I am going to embrace her peanut allergy. I am concentrating on what I love about it. How does it make my life better? Why does it make me thankful?

1. It has caused us to be very aware of the foods we eat and, hopefully, that will remain with Sydney and encourage her to make healthy choices.

2. Restaurant meals are virtually eliminated. Huge $$$ savings.

3. PA is sooooo easy to deal with compared to multiple food allergies. I am grateful we just have PA. I can make Sydney practically anything. No substitutions.

4. It could be so, so much worse. I have known 2 little girls in my life who have died from leukemia. I consistently gave blood to one of them over a period of a year, naively thinking I was making a difference. At least with PA I do have some level of control. I have a good chance of keeping Sydney well, and alive.

5. PA brought us to homeschooling. I had never considered it before. Though we are now committed to homeschooling and would continue even if the allergy disappeared tomorrow, we wouldn't be here right now if not for PA.

6. It has helped me see people as they really are. How they feel on the inside. There are people who get it, people who don't, and those that get it but refuse to care. I have known them all. I can recognize them all. Without PA, I might have thought some people had a good heart, just by the facade they project.