Valentine's Day is this week.
'Tis the season for sweethearts, candy, love and class parties. Class parties inevitably mean that JT will not be feeling the love. Oh he'll probably get 30 cutsie little Valentine's card with SpongeBob or Hello Kitty on them and maybe even a heart-covered pencil. But every class party or holiday or birthday or special event in the classroom usually means he can't eat the same things as the rest of the kids. Because JT has Celiac disease.
Lately, I have been feeling defensive about people's somewhat angry attitudes about making adjustments in schools and classrooms because of allergies, food intolerance and diseases. I feel the need to defend that even though Celiac isn't anaphylactic, it sucks and effects JT's life almost daily. (From constant stomach pain to full-on intense flare-ups; exhaustion and more stomach cramping; the foulest smelling gas that makes him so embarrassed; inability to concentrate at times and more. And all of that is just his normal week on a "gluten free" diet. If he does eat something with gluten he becomes violently ill and is out of commission for a couple days and is easily dehydrated.)
He has a stash of special gluten-free cookies that his teacher keeps in her office for situations like when someone's mom brings in cupcakes for a birthday. And I really try not to make a big deal about it all. In some ways I want him to experience what it's like to have to be different and not get what everybody else has. I want him to experience that in the safe, loving environment of his second-grade classroom because he will experience that odd-man out feeling for the rest of his life in the real world. I don't want him to feel as if people have to always accommodate or change for him. I want him to realize he has to be responsible and bring his own cookies, his own food.
But, I will tell you, that when a teacher or parent calls me and says "we are going to have a gluten free party this time" and then asks for snack suggestions....I feel so damn grateful. Do I expect it? No way. Do I think it's necessary all the time? Nope. But every now and then for people to reach out and make changes to be inclusive, especially for a kid? Oh, hell yeah, that's pretty awesome.
JT and I talk about that part too. The whole grateful when people are nice and giving and loving and looking out for each other and sharing the love. 'Tis the season and all.
In the spirit of gluten free (GF) and Valentine's Day, I tried a GF snack/treat for my kiddos for this week's Pinterest Poser.*
Fruit Roll-Up Fortune Cookies
I found this "recipe" on Pinterest. It looked easy.
First you have to buy Fruit Roll-ups, which I don't think I have ever done in my entire life. I'm not really a fan. But for Pinterest Poser, I did it.
I would suggest you buy plain Roll-ups, not the ones with patterns that can dissolve on one's tongue. Um, what? How weird.
Cut the Roll-ups into fourths.
Stack two squares on top of each other.
Then use a cookie cutter circle or if you don't have one, use any circle to measure and cut out the shape.
Write out the fortunes on strips of paper. I kicked it up a notch and stuck in a few fun things like "Stay up a 1/2 hour later" and "1/2 hour extra X-Box playing time." The kids liked that better than "cutie," but I put those in too.
Put the message in the middle of the circle and fold in half.
Then pinch the Roll-up and push in the middle to make a fortune cookie shape.
And BOOM, you have cutsie sugar-y (some might say plastic-y) gluten free Valentine's Day treats.
I mean mine weren't perfect...look at the Pinterest ones below compared to mine. Ha, ha, ha. (Click here if you want that Pinterest tutorial, I get it, I won't feel bad.)
When the kids got home yesterday, they got their Fortune Cookie Roll-ups and they loved them.
Have you made anything from Pinterest lately? Any major successes or flops? Share below in the comments or over on my Facebook page.
Here are some of the projects I've attempted--the good and the bad:
Seven Layer Dip in Individual Cups (my favorite so far!)-click here
The pumpkin address-click here
The Kitchen Dancing Sign--click here
Head on over and follow my Pinterest boards.
'Tis the season for sweethearts, candy, love and class parties. Class parties inevitably mean that JT will not be feeling the love. Oh he'll probably get 30 cutsie little Valentine's card with SpongeBob or Hello Kitty on them and maybe even a heart-covered pencil. But every class party or holiday or birthday or special event in the classroom usually means he can't eat the same things as the rest of the kids. Because JT has Celiac disease.
Lately, I have been feeling defensive about people's somewhat angry attitudes about making adjustments in schools and classrooms because of allergies, food intolerance and diseases. I feel the need to defend that even though Celiac isn't anaphylactic, it sucks and effects JT's life almost daily. (From constant stomach pain to full-on intense flare-ups; exhaustion and more stomach cramping; the foulest smelling gas that makes him so embarrassed; inability to concentrate at times and more. And all of that is just his normal week on a "gluten free" diet. If he does eat something with gluten he becomes violently ill and is out of commission for a couple days and is easily dehydrated.)
He has a stash of special gluten-free cookies that his teacher keeps in her office for situations like when someone's mom brings in cupcakes for a birthday. And I really try not to make a big deal about it all. In some ways I want him to experience what it's like to have to be different and not get what everybody else has. I want him to experience that in the safe, loving environment of his second-grade classroom because he will experience that odd-man out feeling for the rest of his life in the real world. I don't want him to feel as if people have to always accommodate or change for him. I want him to realize he has to be responsible and bring his own cookies, his own food.
But, I will tell you, that when a teacher or parent calls me and says "we are going to have a gluten free party this time" and then asks for snack suggestions....I feel so damn grateful. Do I expect it? No way. Do I think it's necessary all the time? Nope. But every now and then for people to reach out and make changes to be inclusive, especially for a kid? Oh, hell yeah, that's pretty awesome.
JT and I talk about that part too. The whole grateful when people are nice and giving and loving and looking out for each other and sharing the love. 'Tis the season and all.
In the spirit of gluten free (GF) and Valentine's Day, I tried a GF snack/treat for my kiddos for this week's Pinterest Poser.*
Fruit Roll-Up Fortune Cookies
*In an attempt at not being a Pinterest Poser,** every week I detail a new Pinterest challenge whether it be a new recipe or a craft.
**My definition of a Pinterest Poser is someone who is all pins and no substance.**
I found this "recipe" on Pinterest. It looked easy.
First you have to buy Fruit Roll-ups, which I don't think I have ever done in my entire life. I'm not really a fan. But for Pinterest Poser, I did it.
I would suggest you buy plain Roll-ups, not the ones with patterns that can dissolve on one's tongue. Um, what? How weird.
Cut the Roll-ups into fourths.
Stack two squares on top of each other.
Then use a cookie cutter circle or if you don't have one, use any circle to measure and cut out the shape.
Write out the fortunes on strips of paper. I kicked it up a notch and stuck in a few fun things like "Stay up a 1/2 hour later" and "1/2 hour extra X-Box playing time." The kids liked that better than "cutie," but I put those in too.
Put the message in the middle of the circle and fold in half.
Then pinch the Roll-up and push in the middle to make a fortune cookie shape.
And BOOM, you have cutsie sugar-y (some might say plastic-y) gluten free Valentine's Day treats.
I mean mine weren't perfect...look at the Pinterest ones below compared to mine. Ha, ha, ha. (Click here if you want that Pinterest tutorial, I get it, I won't feel bad.)
When the kids got home yesterday, they got their Fortune Cookie Roll-ups and they loved them.
Have you made anything from Pinterest lately? Any major successes or flops? Share below in the comments or over on my Facebook page.
Here are some of the projects I've attempted--the good and the bad:
Make Your Own Magnets- click here
DIY Painted Clay Necklace- click here
Dixie Cup Lights- click here
DIY Ornaments-click here
Gluten Free Clay- click here
Make Your Own Stamps- click here
Birthday Shirt- click here
Gluten Free Pop Tarts- click here
Front Porch Kid Art Display- click here
Door turned into Table- click here
Birthday Shirt- click here
Gluten Free Pop Tarts- click here
Front Porch Kid Art Display- click here
Door turned into Table- click here
Summer Wish List Chalkboard-click here
Peanut Butter Nutella Cookie Sandwiches-click here
Painted Mason Jar Vases-click here
Cinco de Mayo Paper Flowers- click here
Earth Day Cupcakes- Click here
Nail Art-click here
Homemade Photo Booth Fun- click here
Fake Bangs- click here
DIY Subway Art- click here
Furniture Painting and Bench/Chest Makeover- click here
Thanksgiving-y Project/Gratitude/Holiday Countdown- click here
The Smoothie-click here
The Smoothie-click here
The Free Printable Turned Artwork in a Boring Hallway- click here
The chalk board-click hereSeven Layer Dip in Individual Cups (my favorite so far!)-click here
The pumpkin address-click here
The Kitchen Dancing Sign--click here
Oh yeah, and come follow me on Twitter @AngelaYBlood and subscribe to my MomPulse YouTube channel here.
Sweet treats (literally and figuratively ;) ). Also: I can't believe how some people whine about having to make adjustments for kids with food issues. My son has a lot of intolerances that make him very miserable and cause migraines and while I don't expect that the whole school adjusts, it's very nice that they always have a special choice just for him :)
ReplyDeleteThese look adorable! I love the messages. How sweet of the school to be inclusive - it truly makes a parents day.
ReplyDeleteThose are really cute! I think kids of all ages would love these. And... did I spy peanut butter/nutella cookie sandwiches on your list there? Excuse me. I have to be somewhere.
ReplyDelete