Making the best of it

"Cash Rewards" (cashrewards)
08/10/2018 at 14:39 • Filed to: None

So my 4 year old daughter and I were both diagnosed simultaneously with two different gastrointestinal disorders, requiring lifelong changes to diet and/or medication. So now we have t o provide food at day care (they, of course, will not decrease our bill by a corresponding amount). When I dropped her off today, her teacher said they were having a picnic outside with sandwiches. I didn’t want her to feel left out, so I went home, made her a sandwich she could eat instead of her lunch, and brought it back. When I did, the teacher said a mother had brought in cupcakes for her kids birthday. Home again, grab a cupcake she could eat, and go back.

Did I take the Miata each time? Of course.

Did I take a lap through the underground parking garage to hear the exhaust echo and reverberate? Of course.

Did I burn my hand on my new shift knob, since it’s a million degrees outside? Of course.

Seen here with new leather boots with matching stitching

DISCUSSION (42)

LOREM IPSUM > Cash Rewards
08/10/2018 at 14:53

Good parenting has it's rewards. Painful as it may be at times.

Cash Rewards > LOREM IPSUM
08/10/2018 at 14:53

Very true

Chariotoflove > Cash Rewards
08/10/2018 at 14:54

Good dadlopnik.

Related rant: our school has too many damn cupcakes, bake sales, and other opportunities for treats. Here we are trying to teach healthy eating choices, and our school is actively working to subvert our efforts.

Takuro Spirit > Chariotoflove
08/10/2018 at 14:58

But for the love of Pete there better not be any NUTS in any of it!

Because if there is, we’re gonna ostracized your kid and make them sit at the special NUT TABLE.

And what’s with teachers giving out CANDY as rewards for everything at school? There should be some kind of law....

Tristan > Cash Rewards
08/10/2018 at 14:59

You’re a good dad. Also a good excuse to drive the Miata! I miss mine. I also miss my daughter at daycare... Maybe I should bring her a cupcake. :)

Takuro Spirit > Cash Rewards
08/10/2018 at 15:00

Parentinglopnik WIN.

Sorry to hear about the tummy issues, I completely understand.

BTW Almond Milk does not like to be frozen. And Meijer has better Froyo options than other stores in our area, and sometimes they even go on sale with the regular ice cream!

LOREM IPSUM > Takuro Spirit
08/10/2018 at 15:05

And if you happen to spill your hemp milk and it runs between the counter and stove, move the stove and wipe it up. All of it. My god, what a stench.

First and last time I bought that crap. Didn't lighten my coffee worth a damn anyway.

Cash Rewards > Takuro Spirit
08/10/2018 at 15:05

Are you serious? Candy? I'd lose my mind

Cash Rewards > Takuro Spirit
08/10/2018 at 15:07

Thanks! I'll have to look up who else is associated with Meijer. We got giant, whole foods, and Safeway.

Cash Rewards > Tristan
08/10/2018 at 15:07

Do it!

Takuro Spirit > Cash Rewards
08/10/2018 at 15:07

Yeah, at the week’s end I have my 4th grader clean out her backpack and the bottom is full of little candy wrappers.

They give them out as ‘ prizes’ for getting questions right, turning in homework on time, etc.

The FIRST CAVITY bill is getting sent to the damn school I swear.

Chariotoflove > Cash Rewards
08/10/2018 at 15:13

It happens.

Cash Rewards > Takuro Spirit
08/10/2018 at 15:13

Seriously. Right now I'm getting them to give her food that's ok, but they're airing on the side of caution. Some times she gets upset when she didn't get something she knows she can have, but I understand that's better than the alternative. But candy do things that she should just, you know, do? Thanks for making my job harder

Cash Rewards > Chariotoflove
08/10/2018 at 15:14

I get bake sales. Budgets are an issue. And I get birthdays. But candy? No

Chariotoflove > Takuro Spirit
08/10/2018 at 15:16

So my daughter spent all of sixth grade not bringing PB&J sandwiches because her best friend insisted she had a peanut allergy. But when I see what she does it, I have a hard time believing there’s any nit allergy going in there. I’m waiting for this phase to pass, or maybe get a new best friend.

Chariotoflove > Cash Rewards
08/10/2018 at 15:19

But we have so many of them. Not every class celebration needs to have cupcakes and cookies and stuff. We are teaching our kids that it’s not a celebration unless there’s lots of processed sugar.

And I’m no extreme anti treat guy. I’m all for the sweet stuff, but the extent to which I’m seeing it is bothering even me.

Texas has a serious obesity problem, and this is not helping.

Takuro Spirit > Chariotoflove
08/10/2018 at 15:21

Damn nut allergies got everyone so spooked, no one even wants to touch a nut, lest they look at someone with an actual nut allergy and kill them dead.

At least, that’s what I think the schools are teaching my kids.

Cash Rewards > Chariotoflove
08/10/2018 at 15:22

You're definitely not wrong

Cash Rewards > Takuro Spirit
08/10/2018 at 15:23

Its reversing. When my oldest was an infant, peanut butter was a no no. Two years later, my youngest got it as soon as he could. They realized they screwed that one up, I think.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Cash Rewards
08/10/2018 at 15:25

I empathize with your newly required dietary changes. I went from living 34 years of eating basically whatever I wanted to needing to avoid gluten, dairy, soy, greens, fruits, and anything high in FODMAPs.

Basically I eat lean meat and white starch like rice and taters. And avoiding soy is fucking difficult; that shit is literally everything.

Try looking at Thrive.com. They offer tons of dietary-specific foods, and your order helps fund meals for people in need.

ttyymmnn > Cash Rewards
08/10/2018 at 15:25

Good dad is good.

gawdzillla > Cash Rewards
08/10/2018 at 15:25

i m a fan of shift knobs that are made out of Delrin/Duracon

doesnt heat up in 100F florida sun, its awesome

they are cheap as hell on ebay too, and weight is good

Chariotoflove > Cash Rewards
08/10/2018 at 15:30

Sorry, I kinda got revved up there for a minute.

MoCamino > Cash Rewards
08/10/2018 at 15:33

Excellent OppoDadism and very appropriate Miata usage.

If the stomach issues mean no more dairy but you still need ice cream (and what 4 year old or their dad doesn’t) try the So Delicious brand of coconut milk based products. They are really good!

With that said, I know just saying “try this coconut milk alternative” is a major over-simplification. My wife has developed several food limitations over the past year or so, and I know dealing with it can be a freaking nightmare. Having two in the house (with different limitations no less).....wow. I feel for you, I know it’s tough.

Cash Rewards > Chariotoflove
08/10/2018 at 15:39

You’re all good!

Cash Rewards > gawdzillla
08/10/2018 at 15:40

This is prefer coated steel, weighs about 600grams, feels great. Except when it's hot

Michael > Cash Rewards
08/10/2018 at 15:41

A white sock (small size) does wonders to a hot shift knob.

Cash Rewards > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/10/2018 at 15:41

You and me might be in the same boat

Cash Rewards > ttyymmnn
08/10/2018 at 15:41

Thanks!

Chariotoflove > Takuro Spirit
08/10/2018 at 15:42

Real nut allergies are no joke. That’s why every parent of a kid with one has an epi-pen ready just in case, and makes sure the school knows. It doesn’t mean no one in their institution can eat a PB&J.

Takuro Spirit > Chariotoflove
08/10/2018 at 15:49

But they condition the kids w/o allergies to fear peanuts and to stay far far away from those that DO have the allergy, just in case they touched a peanut in the past 48 hours.

God forbid a child w/o nut allergies wants to bring a PB&J to school, because they’ll be sitting by thier lonesome at a special table at the back of the lunchroom, instead of the other way around.

We make the kids with allergies feel more normal and accepted, then shun the ones without.

Makes. No. Fucking . Sense.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Cash Rewards
08/10/2018 at 15:57

That suuuuuuuuuuuucks. Purge the house of anything you can’t have, and donate to a food pantry what you can, otherwise find some friends to give the opened stuff too. Or have a party and force people to eat your ‘contaminated’ food.

I don’t miss much, but on occasion will crave specific things. Especially after a stretch of good days. All it takes is one bad day to remind me why I don’t want that food anymore.

5-Guys does a great job with allergies, and they only have potatoes in their fryers, so the fries are clean. Chipotle also does a good job when ordered correctly. You can get plain corn, but it comes frozen, so I have to make sure I can heat it up. Red Robin also has a separate fryer for people with allergies for their fries.

And my wife, who is a saint, made me laminated cards with a list of what I cannot eat on one side, and the other listing things I can have. I hand it to the wait-staff when I go out and usually talk with the chef about what I can have them make me. Most places take allergies seriously now, so do not be afraid to insist on talking with managers or the chef to explain how they need to help you.

And be prepared to share way too much about how you manage to find food to eat. I am incessantly explaining my food requirements to people. It gets old quickly, then that frustration goes away after you get accustomed to doing it at almost every meal.

My GP Doc has me on VSL3 and IB-Guard. Both seem to help keep my delicate internal balance aligned.

Good luck!

Chariotoflove > Takuro Spirit
08/10/2018 at 16:14

Well, that does kind of bother me. If my kid has a peanut allergy, my reaction is to take responsibility for her safety and make sure she isn’t endangered. Only if the school’s policies make it such that I cannot protect my child will I work to change the policies.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Cash Rewards
08/10/2018 at 16:43

Hey, club “Oppos who have digestive tracts that just flat out do not work” is now up to three members. Three years in for me. I’ve gotten used to the medications and diet changes. You guys can do this!

WilliamsSW > Cash Rewards
08/10/2018 at 17:15

Dad level = GOAT

Cash Rewards > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
08/10/2018 at 17:26

Just started meds a week and a half ago, starting to see results finally. Wish the pills weren't gigantic

Cash Rewards > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
08/10/2018 at 17:28

Good call on 5 guys. My daughter is more on the CANNOT HAVE side of things, so that's helpful. Doc started me on antiinflammatories (mesalamine) and hope I get and stay at remission. And yeah, the pantry purge sucked.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Cash Rewards
08/10/2018 at 17:42

My GI specialist has me taking 9 750mg capsules of Balsalazide daily. They’re big, but go down easily with water. The diet part is definitely harder than taking the required pills and injections.

Captain of the Enterprise > Cash Rewards
08/10/2018 at 18:55

You sound like a great dad!

Cash Rewards > MoCamino
08/10/2018 at 19:50

Thanks, I appreciate that. For her, it's complete avoidance of gluten, so we're a gluten free house now. I don't have the same No Exposure sensitivity, but would benefit from cutting it out anyway. So it's two different things, but overlap, thankfully. I may have to lose more food groups, eventually

MoCamino > Cash Rewards
08/10/2018 at 23:13

Definitely check out the Bob’s Red Mill line of products. You can make some pretty great stuff with their GF flours. For pie crusts, we use Wholly Wholesome brand. You can’t tell the difference. There is a very good cookbook called “Weeknight Gluten Free” by Kristine Kidd. Great recipes that aren’t hard to make.

Cash Rewards > MoCamino
08/11/2018 at 10:42

Yup! Agree on Bob's red Mill, we've had good luck with their stuff so far. And we actually looked through that cookbook last week; we have the non-gf already