Hello my name is Jennifer, and I'm allergic to Peanuts.

Sometimes I feel like this is how I should introduce myself. Especially when I am at a social gathering where people are kissing each other hello and goodbye, or when i'm with clients or colleagues who bring snacks into meetings. I always explain that my allergy is the reason I may not shake someone's hand, or kiss someone hello (in case they just ate peanuts of course!). 9 out of 10 times , this leads into a 15 minute discussion about allergies. The same converstaion that I've had over and over again.


Anyways, I am allergic to peanut's, and have been since I was 2 years old. Considering it was 1982 at the time, there was no such thing as "may contain labels", peanut free schools, even Epipens didn't exist. My mother threw out the peanut butter, and life went on. I look back now and seriously wonder how I didn't have a reaction throughout my entire childhood. I consider myself to be very lucky. I ate at ice cream parlors (always asked to wash the scoops), friends houses, restaurants (my mother would always advise the servers), I went to overnight camp, embarked on many plane rides where they served peanuts, I did after school activities and the list goes on. One might read this and thing my parents were irresponsible, they were not. They always looked out for my allergy, but the awareness that is around today did not exist in the 1980's. As time went on, and allergy awareness grew, I became more and more careful.

This brings me to the reason I decided to start this blog. I have searched and found several blogs about Mom's who have children with allergies. Most of these blogs speak of the trials and tribulations these mothers have experienced in raising their allergic children, but none of these blogs speak about what is is like to be allergic and pregnant, or what it is like to be an allergic mom.

So there it is, My name is Jennifer, and I'm allergic to peanuts.

Blogging is very new to me. In fact, I barely even follow any other blogs! Please join me on my journey of becomming the newest member of the blogging community. I will try to post regularly, however I have a 10 month old, and I am going back to work in 2 weeks so please have some understanding!

:)

J.