???What is this topic about. I admit the title is really not very good, but honestly right now I cannot come up with a better one. So let me tell you what this post is about.
Alena will be entering Kindergarten in the fall. This is a big decision on all levels. I think that there is a lot of pressure to pick the right school. A school were Alena can blossom, be confident and grow. I know academics are very important, but I also think that it is important to find a school which focuses on the "whole" child. We do have several options around so that is a good thing :) One part of the decision of course that we feel confident that the school is fully aware and capable of dealing with Alena's dietary needs i.e.: make sure that she has a treat when another kid brings something in. I am pretty comfortable that this will/is not a big deal as so many kids have allergies and dietary issues. I think that its important so that her future teacher(s) are interested to be educated about CG and won't single her out, or try to find issues and attempt to link it to CG.
The good thing about CG is that even if something goes wrong (I mean if she were to ingest some milk item) that it is not life threatening at this stage. Yes, it is not good but it will not threaten her life. 2007 was Alena's first year in preschool. In her class the kids took turns on bringing in snack. Alena's teacher was very interested in learning about CG, and her dietary needs. She understood that she could not have any milk products. But you know what happened, right? One day a parent brought in yogurt tubes, and by mistake Alena got some too. She of course was only 3 at the time and not as aware to avoid milk products as today...In any case, I got a frantic phone call from the teacher telling me what had happened and asking what she needed to do. Well, there really was nothing that needed to be done. It obviously was not a great situation, it should not have happened but it did. Alena was fine, her levels were fine...so I take comfort in knowing that should, by mistake, she eat something that's not OK she will not collapse. The teacher however from that point on forward was even more vigilant in making sure that the snacks Alena ate were OK for her. I always kept Tofutti cheese, crackers, pop sicles, etc. for her at school so that there was a substitute item for her. Alena learned in that situation however that there are foods she cannot eat and that its not a big deal....
Bottom line is to find a school we love, teachers that care, and remember that the sky is the limit for all of us :)
