Remember when your child was first diagnosed with a severe, life threatening food allergy? For me, I was in denial for months before I could truly accept what a life-altering event it was. I was beyond scared, and I wasn’t sure I was up for the task.

I felt overwhelmed at the road that lay before me to practice vigilance to ensure my son would never come into contact with his allergens. I had a very difficult time trusting that even my husband could properly take care of our son.

There have been times when I needed not only a friend to talk to, but someone who truly understands food allergies and all the emotional issues that it entails. I see it as a strength when we reach out for help, and admit that we are in need of assistance.

If you are feeling overly anxious and can’t quite find a ‘new normal’ after your child has been diagnosed, you might need some help. If your child is having a difficult time at school learning how to self-advocate, or feeling helpless – then you might want to reach out for some assistance for him/her.

Learning how to manage food allergies is a one day at a time thing for us. As Morgan has grown, he has been able to take on more of the responsibility. That doesn’t mean the transitions are easy though! My husband and I are careful to monitor Morgan’s and our emotional health along with physical health. The last thing we wanted was for Morgan’s food allergies to be a stomping ground for rebellion. It’s normal for a teenager to demand independence, but do so with an EpiPen in your pocket!

We certainly haven’t done everything right through the years, and there have been times when my husband has reminded me that I need to let go more and allow Morgan more space. And I have asked my husband to be more detail oriented with label reading. Communication is key in the family unit, and sometimes that requires an outside source to help the process!