Friday, June 13, 2008

You Could Die

Max and David headed off on their camping trip this weekend with much food supplied by Mommy, two epi-pens, Benedryl, How to Read A Label handouts and after many pop quizzes administered by Mommy which Daddy aced.

Yesterday I took Max and Owen to the grocery store to gather (that's what us women-folk do right?) snacks for the trip. I let Max pick out cereal with sunflower oil, chips with sunflower oil and even individual packages of sunflower seeds (never seen a kid so excited about sunflower seeds) since Owen was staying home with me.

At home later, Owen wanted Max's cereal. Max put his arm around him and said "No, Owen you can't have that it would make you really sick and you'd have to have the shot." Owen continued to protest and point at the cereal. "No," said Max "You could die, Owen, you can't have that."

I stopped what I was doing and looked at him. I just let it go. I just didn't realize that Max knew that food allergies could kill you. I guess how could he not know. He has probably heard me say it though I try not to talk about it in front of him. He doesn't express fear of dying (only fear of me dying someday), so I just didn't know that he knew.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

He survived us. :)

ZM said...

I wonder sometimes, if it's better for them to know what the stakes are. But do they really understand 'die?' I'm not sure mine do, although the Eldest has some experience with the topic.

Still.

elisha said...

the other day i was letting the boys pick out a "good helper" treat in the checkout lane at the grocery store. after my oldest, with no food allergies, picked a chocolate bar, i read the package for "may contain." i approved it and the cashier said, "you don't like peanuts?" and i did the whole allergy explanation. she was very nice and looked at my son and said, "oh, you're allergic to peanuts?" zach said, "deathly allergic!"

it was a little shocking to hear come out of his young mouth.