I hate family parties

even when the hosts are bending over backwards to be helpful. It requires being THAT kind of mother.

This is especially hard when you don't see the family often.. having to explain about food allergies. Going over the party food beforehand to find out what they are serving so I can bring something comparable isn't too bad. Its when they really want to provide safe food that it gets harder; trying to convey you're not really paranoid when you ask to look at the packaging for the pasta and pasta sauce for nuts. Surprisingly both the pasta and the rice had 'we cannot guarantee this food is nut free' (this warning seems to be peculiar to British foods, as I haven't seen it in the US yet; I assume it means that the manufacturer didn't have any nuts, but they cannot guarantee the source ingredients they use aren't cross-contaminated). The desserts are particularly hard.

Thankfully our family were very accommodating and understanding. They didn't look strangely at me when I brought his bread rolls or pasta, but instead wanted to make sure their home-made pasta sauce was safe; they even made their own cake so my son could have some; I have not seem him that happy to be able to share in the party dessert, ever!!

It is almost as if our family had read the new Allergy Moms Newsletter entry 10 things Every Child with Food Allergies wishes you knew! The first entry speaks about longing to be included. He certainly felt included yesterday.

Thank you, great Auntie Gina. xxx