Pause in the Wake of The Peter Rabbit Movie Backlash

“Why do our children have to suffer because of special children like your’s?”

“Allergies Smallergies, these kids need the protein!”

“Can you have M&M’s? Well, my daughter can, she’s not as allergic as you!”

“It would be easier if you just stayed home!”

“You’re overreacting!”

“You’re too sensitive!”

“Get a life!”

“They need to learn how to live in the real world.”

“We never had these allergies when we were growing up.”

“Just take Benadryl!”

“She’s not eating anything.  I don’t know why she needs to carry her epinephrine.”

These are just a handful of statements either said or written to me, my child or my fellow food allergy friends over the last 9 years.

Charming, right? 

But on the flip side, we’ve heard:

“How can I help?”

“Can you do a presentation for us?  This is such an important issue!”

“Thank you for teaching us. I never knew about this!”

“It must be hard sometimes.  You should be so proud.”

“Can you show me again how to use her epinephrine?”

“I would never want your child to feel worried in my home. How can I help her feel safe?”

“I have a nephew with a peanut allergy.  I was there when he had his first reaction.  I know it’s serious. I will take care of her.”

“What can she have?  I want to have something safe for her at my child’s party.”

“She’s so responsible!”

Thank the Good Lord for these people. These are my kind of people.  This is how I hope to make any parent feel when caring for their child.  I never want anyone to feel like an inconvenience, especially over medical needs, under my watch. 

We need these people now more than ever, in light of the recent Peter Rabbit Movie debacle.  

It’s so easy to dwell on all of the cruel and nasty comments we’ve all personally heard or read online, especially during times like these.  

Instead, focus on the helpers.  Be thankful for those strong voices in our community who stood up for our kids. Gravitate towards kindness and compassion.  It’s a much less stressful way to live.  

It always feels better to let go of the negative weight

and 

 “Just Keep Swimming!” 

Please read FARE’s (Food Allergy Research & Education) very powerful Letter as to why this was absolutely the wrong content for a children’s movie:

“Playing an anaphylactic reaction for laughs, using a person’s food allergy as a way to harm them, or having a character be the butt of jokes because they have a food allergy has no place in the movies, but is egregiously out of place in a children’s movie.”