My older daughter started preschool this week. It's hard to say who was more excited - me or her! It's our first back to school since the Celiac diagnosis. I called the preschool director in July to let her know about the implications of gluten free snack time. At the parents' orientation meeting Mrs. H & I talked about BG's disease and gluten free snack options; we discussed it again at the parent/student open house.
The preschool has agreed to provide gluten free snacks for all children on a daily basis. (On pretzel day BG will get GF pretzels and the others will eat regular ones.) On the days when a child's birthday is being celebrated the child gets to choose a "special" snack for the entire class. The choices include: Oreos, Chips Ahoy, Packaged Rice Krispie Treats, or Fruit Snacks. I agreed to provide GF Oreos and Chocolate Chip Cookies. On days the honoree chooses Krispie Treats, BG will get something else. The fruit snacks will be gluten free. BG has been briefed on these decisions.
All was well . . . .
Preschool gets out at 11:30; I picked BG up on Day 2 and we head home. Before we even arrive home, my phone rings. On the other end is Mrs. H. She's clearly upset and proceeds to tell me that "a mistake was made at preschool today." The short story is that BG was served regular pretzels during snack time. I won't go into their explanation of what happened and why, but it is fair to say Mrs. H was clearly rattled and promised it would never happen again. She even called again the following day to check on my daughter.
I tried to be gracious on the phone. The truth of the matter is that gluten ingestion does not threaten my daughter's life. It's like feeding her poison - the effects are long term. Celiac Disease is linked to all kinds of long term, life altering medical problems. So the only immediate effect of a few regular pretzels at snack time is a tummy ache for my baby. I know that extending grace was the right thing to do. It was an honest mistake that could have been made by anyone. It won't be the last time that BG ingests gluten in her lifetime. I don't want to become known as "one of those moms"; I want to trust the school; I want to trust my daughter.
Since that time though, I have to admit I have several less than gracious moments in my mind. I've wondered if this is going to happen again. Are they taking BG's disease seriously? Was I firm enough in my communication of the importance of this? Are all the staff communicating with each other effectively? Should I have reacted more strongly? There's a battle in my mind.
It's a fine line - - trusting the Lord, letting my daughter live her life and fulfilling my roll as her protector. I spent hours researching food, changing our eating, and navigating gluten free living. I cling tightly to God's sovereignty and I believe with all my heart he has my first born in his sights. He has the ability to prevent the gluten from even affecting her body - he can work miracles like that!!
These struggles will likely continue as long as she lives under my roof. For now she and I have talked about it and she knows that it is always okay to ask an adult if what she's eating is gluten free. She knows the adults have her best interest in mind, but that they sometimes make mistakes. We both love the preschool and the teachers and we'll all move forward from here.
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