Egg-free; nut-free; dairy-free. Those were the instructions on the sign-up sheet today for Naomi Rivka’s camp party on Friday, their last day (it’s only a one-week camp). The party theme is “stripes and polka dots.” (I think)
Dairy-free, nut-free – those are easy. And when I signed up to make or bring cuppycakes, the one the counsellor pointed out specifically: “they have to be egg-free.”
“Fine,” I thought, “I can do egg-free, no problem.” Okay! I love accomodating different dietary needs, for whatever reason. So I can do that. So help me, I will bake for you, little EGGLESS BOY OR GIRL: you “EGG KID.” Sure – can do!
But just now – twelve hours later; that’s how long my brain takes to kick in – I started thinking.
Here’s what that niggling thought said to me: “Why?”
“Why do I have to accomodate their EGG KID, when they are not at all accomodating my KOSHER KID?”
I bring separate snacks for Naomi every single day, even though the camp provides snacks and drinks. Beyond unprocessed fruit or veggies, I have told them she can’t eat or drink a thing. The pure fruit juice may be grape; the crackers, unsupervised.
The thing of it is that I don’t expect them to accomodate her food needs – the camp is not in a Jewish area and she’s the only Jewish kid. That would be weird – shopping kosher for just one kid.
So we just bring our own, I give it to her, we don’t make a fuss. She knows she gets separate snacks. No hard feelings – we all eat this way when we’re out of the house. We often say “no thanks” to treats we would otherwise enjoy that just don’t happen to be kosher. (drat!)
And that’s why it strikes me as just a little… unfair… that EGG KID is learning that wherever he or she goes, the world will simply open up to accomodate that weird little need. It’s simply not true: that’s not the way the world works.
If we accomodate every single dietary need with every single school or camp snack, then what the kids are left snacking on is… lettuce, celery sticks, water. Healthy stuff, actually. But not very interesting, as the world of snacks goes. Almost every snack food contains something that some kid can’t have.
Honestly, I think my way of teaching my kid to say “no thanks” will have more positive effect on her character than teaching EGG KID to say “yum, sure!” every time a snack is offered.
EGG KID may someday die (or at least compromise his or her parents’ vegan principles) because of being taught to say YES to food. Instead of saying, “I need to see the label,” or “it’s okay, I brought my own snack.”
Is there a limit to inclusiveness?
Can we tell parents gently, nicely, that we will NOT accomodate their kid’s special food requirement, not even try, not even a little bit? Ask them to please take responsibility for their own child’s safety, or their own family’s principles, rather than rely on the supervision of strangers, creating delicious baked goods in their own home?
Where do we draw the line?
Surreal post-script: I’m thinking I will make the cupcakes… but somehow bake them IN THE SHAPE OF EGGS. And I will ice them, white, shiny-smooth, eggy. Ha! That will show them. “Oh, yes; they’re egg-free. What? They look like eggs? Sure do. You got a problem with that???” Sort of like kosher pancakes in the shape of little piggies…
I think the difference is that one is a choice (to be kosher) and one is an allergy, and possibly life threatening.
ReplyDeleteNot that I disagree - at least they allow for things made at home, at my kids schools items need to be purchased from a certified nut free (and kosher) bakery.
I have your bag from the bread, by the way. ANd we LOVED the bread, thank you again!!
That is something to think about.
ReplyDeleteIs kosher a choice? Interesting question. (especially for my kids, who have eaten kosher from birth)
ReplyDeleteBut I think my point still holds: my kids read labels even before they can read - they know the onus is on them to be vigilant about food. They assume nothing.
With food, assumptions can be deadly - or at least, carry spiritual consequences. ;-)
Despite Elisheva telling me it's dumb to give the bread bags, they always find their way back to me eventually. Maybe we can meet up at the cool new playground in Ben Nobleman sometime?
I agree with you. This seems to be taking inclusiveness too far, and it's not helpful for the child in question in the long run.
ReplyDeleteAlso, it's a slippery slope. For example, according to this line of thinking, none of the kids should get to play outside, because of the one fair-skinned redhead in the camp who needs a wide-brimmed hat, long sleeves, and gallons of sunscreen before s/he goes outside...
Shabbat Shalom!
Ha ha ha... funny you should mention that!
ReplyDeleteThe first day, when I dropped her off, I said, "she doesn't have sunscreen on but it's in the bag." The leader said, "we probably won't go outside - it's supposed to be hot out today."
While they DID go out for a walk yesterday, but my experience with City of Toronto day camps is that they are mostly indoors these days due to heat, smog, humidity and the vagaries of weather.
When I was a kid... well, we were outside unless there was immediate danger of a lightning strike.
:-)))