Guide to Parenting a Child with Food Allergies

Fresh Daily Bread is affiliated with The Allergy Kit, a drug free allergy treatment program. Because we follow the world of allergies closely, we like to share any freebies or news from such communities.  Today we offer the Guide to Parenting a Child with Food Allergies. 

Free Parenting Guide: Food Allergies

From Confusion to Confidence:
KFA's Starter Guide to Parenting a Child with a Food Allergy

This free 47-page e-book is filled with essential information for parenting a food allergic child.

• Understanding Food Allergies and Anaphylaxis
• Diagnosis and Treatment
• Food Allergies vs. Food Intolerances
• Coping with a New Diagnosis
• Checklist for Managing Food Allergies
• Grocery Shopping and Label Reading
• Dietary Concerns for Restricted Diets
• Nutrition Information and Allergen Avoidance Lists for Milk Allergy, Egg Allergy, Peanut Allergy, Soy Allergy, Tree Nut Allergy, and Wheat Allergy
• Where to Find Safe Foods
• How KFA Can Help You

From Confusion to Confidence (requires Flash)

Education by the Numbers

Education By the Numbers infographic

I Hope They Dance

Yesterday, I had my last volunteer teaching assignment with a class of city school 2nd graders. As always, their enthusiasm and energy completely charmed me. When I walked into the room, a darling little pixie of a girl looked up at me with a toothy grin and said, "I know your name!" I smiled back and said, "Oh, do you now?" She said, "You're Miss Kim!" Well sure enough, she had read my name tag and though I normally use my last name, I couldn't disappoint my clever friend, so for the next 5 hours, I was "Miss Kim!" to 22 little people.

We began the session with each child introducing themselves and telling me what they wanted to be when they grew up. Their aspirations stretched from police officer to pediatrician with a ballerina in the middle. One of the reasons I like to volunteer teach is that I firmly believe that education and love of school is the foundation to achieving those young dreams. If the day I spend in their classroom makes their overall school experience more pleasant, I believe they will be more inclined to stay in school and love to learn. I also believe that a fresh adult invigorates and encourages our youngsters.

We spent the next several hours learning about the difference between unit and assembly line production in our mock doughnut factory exercise. Then we learned about how taxes work to support our communities. We learned some simple civic planning as we researched and voted on what sort of business to bring to our mock community. We finished off with a lively rap song about the way money moves around the community, from the bank to a business, to another business, to a service industry, and eventually back to the bank.

Yesterday's class is in a school district that is plagued with crime and poverty. Something that really impacted me was when we had to do work in our workbook, half the kids didn't have pencils or crayons. The teacher tapped into her supply cabinet that she stocks out of her own pocket and as I imagined she's done 100 times if she's done it once, she gave them the necessary supplies to do the work. Something so many take for granted, like basic school supplies, is something so many of these children don't have. Without assuming too much, I wonder what else they don't have. I may not be able to give them all the things they don't have, but programs like the one I did yesterday give them something different, someone who truly loves them and wants them to succeed. Reinforcing confidence and curiosity. Reminding them how special they are and what potential they hold.

During the last lesson, as the music began to play, my little friends were wiggling with joy. I

promised that if they paid attention during the first time I played the song, I would play it again and they could show me some moves. The future ballerina led the dancing, doing splits and twists and pirouettes next to her desk. Another group of girls did an impromptu line dance while the little boys busted break dancing moves and moonwalks. The teacher and I caught each other's eyes while we laughed at their beauty and happiness. I am so honored she shared her class with me yesterday.

I don't know what tomorrow holds for my little friends, but I hope it includes the same joy they exploded with yesterday. I hope they always dance.

With love,
"Miss Kim"

Being the host with the most

Atlanta Hotel Supply

As the summer traveling season gears up, many folks have decided to visit family and friends around the nation, whether for a reunion, a graduation party, or just to make time for friends, having company is nearly as enjoyable as being company.

But having or being company still can allow for the amenities of traveling to a luxury hotel. A lot of the accouterments found in hotel rooms across the nation can also be purchased by the homeowner.

Suppose you've got an entire group of folks coming for a reunion and want to serve hot coffee or cold lemonade all day. A hotel thermal server is the perfect solution for perfect hostessing. It also would be a great addition to a team mom's beverage solutions.

Hotel Bar Supplies

As the day winds down and it's time to relax, what says I'm a great hostess more than whipping up a frozen summer drink? Again, a hotel supply business will have commercial grade blenders at retail store prices and adds a level of hospitality to any guest. Or what about the guest that brings such an item for a hostess gift and offers to start happy hour for the hostess?

After the socializing and relaxation, nothing says "You're Welcome Here" like fresh linens and comfortable pillows. To save on the cost of bedding, check out the prices on a hotel supply online site. You may find yourself opening your doors and sweeping off the welcome mat on a regular basis.

PeachSuite Hotel Supply has sponsored today's post. Nonetheless, we believe that consumers should be creative when shopping for bulk supplies and look at non-traditional retail outlets as well. To learn more about sponsoring a post on one of our sites, Click Here. 

Are you a stickler for grammar?

Or r u kewl with wat has happened to our written language as the result of abbreviated words to make text messaging more efficient? Is there a difference between your texting style and your writing style?  

I don't punctuate when I text. I've also found myself using abt. instead of about in regular writing. It saves 1 letter keystroke. Rather lazy, indeed. (as was the prior verb deficient sentence). 

So? How much does grammar matter to you?

Sound off... 

Courtesy of: OnlineSchools.com

Post-Apocalyptic Mother's Day Post

The world didn't end. This year anyway. Nor do I think it will be anytime soon, and even if it is, my adherence to my religious upbringing is a comfort me, however much a placebo. Fact is, if it ends, it's over, if it doesn't, there's more where that came from. It ultimately means to live each day as it comes at me in the best way I can.

I am neither pleased, nor am I ashamed, but I celebrated Mother's Day in a very passive way. I just didn't acknowledge it. It may seem petty on my part, but to make a big deal about it seems disingenuous. I waver between the two points on the line. I don't want to acknowledge my mother beyond saying, "Thank you for getting pregnant and giving birth to me. I commend you for holding up society's expectations as long as you could."

I don't choose to go into detail, I think I've aired enough laundry at this point. Just understand, I don't know how to celebrate the basic human fact that I have a mother. To me that's like celebrating the fact that two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen make water. There isn't Hydrogen Day that water is expected to acknowledge.

I don't know what to say that isn't fake. The years that I acknowledge it, it's a frantic search to find the right card that says as little as possible as honestly as possible. Things like, "I wouldn't be who I am today without you". I don't hate my mother, she just isn't really a part of my life, at least not in a tangential way.

To be honest, I don't even know how to celebrate "me" as a mother. I thought at some point in time after being a mom, I would feel like I could thump my chest with pride and claim to be the reason I have great kids. In fact, they have done all they have because they are talented and smart. I helped them grow, by caring for the seeds. There is no gardener's day celebrating the fact that someone planted a seed and it grew into a flowering plant. It's just part of the job and what the seed planter expects. If it doesn't grow into a flower, it's more that the gardener missed something.

I, too, held up the expectations. I got married and had kids, chose to stay home with them instead of working. I am glad I've been here. I've been a gardener to the most incredible thing there is. To watch a baby turn into a child, into a young adult... and I remember each step and I celebrate it. My babies are exploding with blooms. I'm glad I didn't let that seedling wither. Why plant a seed if you don't want to care for it?

You see, for me, every day is Mother's Day. I am a mother 365 days a year, and one day is just a blip on the calendar. I am thrilled to witness the life I helped create growing into marvelous and wonderful beings. Members of the human race who I believe will make it better. I didn't do anything special. I did what I was supposed to do. I was there. I really don't want to pat myself on the back.

To praise someone for doing their job seems akin to giving a trophy to everyone who competes. I don't like it in Little League, and honestly, I don't like it in parenting. We are doing our job as members of the human race. We are fulfilling the unspoken agreement we have with the universe when we bring new life into it.

Motherhood is just what women who have babies are supposed to do.

I want you to know... (my Mother's Day wish)

I've spent some time this week navigating questions about what I "want" for Mother's Day. This year is a milestone year for me in ways, because after 17+ years of being a mom, I am sending my firstborn off to college.

My "mommy" days are done. It's time to be the mother. And time to tell my children what I want.

I want you to think. By that, I mean that you need to consider the choices that are endless... and pick one. Intelligently. I also want you to make choices that are your own. Don't choose something that either agrees or defies what we've tried to instill. Please, I get there are times you hate my words, but for the love of all that is holy, do not choose the opposite based on a chance to defy me.

I want you to hate me. And quickly get over it. I know you will hate me. It means you are doing #1. You are thinking. So that trumps #2, my wish that you like me. In order for #1 to happen, at some point in time #2 must. You need to have such an opposite view of what I want for you that you hate me. Then realize, I may have a point. Stop hating me while you begrudgingly accept my wisdom.

I want you to know how to tell me I'm full of it. I want you to be smart enough to say why you don't agree with me. I want you to know that I already know you're smart. Prove it. Show me a reason to change my mind. What you don't know is that I can and will if you're convincing. Because...

I want you to know that I'm not perfect. My only perfection is my ability to love you without condition. I love you with every fiber I have. You are everything I ever wanted in life, I wanted to be a parent. I didn't know how, and I still don't but that will never change how much I love you. I know I screwed up at times. I know where I failed. I hope my failure didn't cripple you. Because YOU are so much more than me. You are me without my mistakes. You're young. You are unmarred. Your life is my hope. Base it on your gut, not me. I am not perfect.

Lastly, I want you to know... You belong to you. The world is yours and you can do as you wish. I can hope, pray, and even nudge you... but ultimately, you're you. I want you to have the confidence to be the best YOU there is. My work is almost done, but I'll never stop loving you. You're mine and I'm proud.

Thank you for being part of my world. Being a mother is the greatest honor there is.

More praise for the world's most noble profession: teaching

While the title is purely subjective, the sentiment behind it, truly heartfelt. As the month of May began, so did my daughter's countdown to high school graduation. Her first award banquet was the evening of the first, for her school's Speech and Debate team, part of the National Forensic League (yes, she's in the NFL).

Their teacher/coach is also a math teacher at the school and the hours he puts into both tutoring and coaching his students is nothing short of amazing. He's a quirky fellow, famous for his groan-worthy, yet endearing, puns. His students are challenged by his work but learn, and go on to excel. Rumor has it he once was seen without a tie, but never without a collared shirt, and almost always with a jacket. He dresses to command respect, but he also earns his student's affection. He is a class act.

That teacher inspires each of his team members to get up every winter Saturday morning and meet at the school, sometimes as early as 5 AM, to travel to a tournament to compete. They do so, joyfully. What a testament to his influence.

In four years of my daughter's high school career, I've never enjoyed an awards banquet more, and I've been to a myriad of them. The team had over 80 kids, and yet, our coach managed to make it seem like the banquet was to honor one and only one student. He praised each senior in a personal speech, talking about why they were an asset to the team. This year, our team won the state championship, something we later found out, that his math mind had calculated that they had an 83% chance of winning. From the kids who went to nationals to the ones who never placed, nobody was ignored.

I don't have a lot more to say beyond a sincere thank you.

Mr. Hamilton, you're absolutely the best. 

My kids are lucky to have you. Thank you for everything you give, heart and soul, to our students.

New Trailer from Pixar's Monsters U

We're more than a little excited for the "pre-quel" to Monsters, Inc. It's hard to believe it has been 12 years since the original movie, but in Fresh Daily Bread's home, our own firstborn monster will be going to college in the fall. This is a perfect family segue into the life changes and to learn how it all began with Mike and Sulley. From the press kit:

Ever since college-bound Mike Wazowski (voice of Billy Crystal) was a little monster, he has dreamed of becoming a Scarer—and he knows better than anyone that the best Scarers come from Monsters University (MU). But during his first semester at MU, Mike’s plans are derailed when he crosses paths with hotshot James P. Sullivan, “Sulley” (voice of John Goodman), a natural-born Scarer.  The pair’s out-of-control competitive spirit gets them both kicked out of the University’s elite Scare Program. To make matters worse, they realize they will have to work together, along with an odd bunch of misfit monsters, if they ever hope to make things right. Screaming with laughter and oozing with heart, Disney•Pixar’s “Monsters University” is directed by Dan Scanlon (“Cars,” “Mater and the Ghostlight,” “Tracy”), produced by Kori Rae (“Up,” “The Incredibles,” “Monsters, Inc.”) and features music from future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and award-winning composer Randy Newman (“Monsters, Inc.,” “Toy Story 3”).

For more information, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter. The film opens in  U.S. theaters on June 21, 2013, and will be shown in 3D in select theaters. For more information, check out the Monsters U website.