Jana
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Merry Christmas
The Princess would like to wish all our readers a very Merry Christmas!
We are enjoying the snow (we had a white Christmas at our house thanks to 8 inches of new snow yesterday), fun new toys and christmas presents and time spent with family. We hope you are enjoying the same and have a wonderful (and safe) holiday season!
Friday, December 21, 2012
"Egg-less" Gingerbread Cupcakes with Maple Frosting
I haven't been putting "egg-less" in the titles of my posts because lately it seems so tacky to me, but as you have probably noticed the term "egg-less" has made a reappearance into this title. It wasn't that my other recipes weren't "egg-less", it just seemed tacky to always be adding that to the title. But I decided this week that the term "egg-less" sets my recipes apart from other recipes, hence it is back to stay.
So, today's recipe took me FOREVER to perfect. I can't even remember how many batches I made to get this one right. I even tested a few different recipes, trying to find the perfect one. One batch was so crumbly they were near impossible to eat, another batch pretty much overflowed their muffin cups and and went all over my oven. Not pretty!
Anyway... I finally made the perfect cupcakes! I LOVE molasses - almost as much as I love spices (like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves... those yummy spices) so when the two get put together with some maple frosting on top, it is the perfect combination. And gingerbread is so christmasy and festive. These would be great for that holiday party coming up!
"Egg-less"Gingerbread Cupcakes with Maple Frosting
For Cupcakes:
2 1/4 cups wonder flour (or other whole grain flour like spelt or kamut)*
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
2 tsp ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp allspice
1/3 cup raw sugar
pinch salt
1 cup no-sugar added applesauce
1/2 cup molasses
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
For Frosting:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 1/4 cup powdered sugar
2-3 Tbsp. maple syrup
Almond milk (if further thinning is required)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Prepare muffin tin with cupcake liners (the more festive the better - since it is Christmas).
Mix the dry ingredients together. *If you end up using white flour, cut the measurement back to 2 1/3 cups.
In a separate bowl, whisk wet ingredients until well combined. Combine wet and dry ingredients and mix until just barely combined.
Scoop batter into prepared muffin pan. The batter should come just short of the top.
Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
While cupcakes are baking, prepare the frosting by putting butter in a large bowl and beating until whipped. Add powdered sugar and beat for another minute. Scrape down the sides and add the maple syrup. Mix for another 2-3 minutes or until the frosting is fluffy.
Cool in muffin pan for a few minutes, than remove to wire rack.
Once cupcakes are completely cool, frost in desired manner.
Recipe adapted from The Village Vegan
So, today's recipe took me FOREVER to perfect. I can't even remember how many batches I made to get this one right. I even tested a few different recipes, trying to find the perfect one. One batch was so crumbly they were near impossible to eat, another batch pretty much overflowed their muffin cups and and went all over my oven. Not pretty!
Anyway... I finally made the perfect cupcakes! I LOVE molasses - almost as much as I love spices (like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves... those yummy spices) so when the two get put together with some maple frosting on top, it is the perfect combination. And gingerbread is so christmasy and festive. These would be great for that holiday party coming up!
"Egg-less"Gingerbread Cupcakes with Maple Frosting
For Cupcakes:
2 1/4 cups wonder flour (or other whole grain flour like spelt or kamut)*
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
2 tsp ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp allspice
1/3 cup raw sugar
pinch salt
1 cup no-sugar added applesauce
1/2 cup molasses
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
For Frosting:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 1/4 cup powdered sugar
2-3 Tbsp. maple syrup
Almond milk (if further thinning is required)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Prepare muffin tin with cupcake liners (the more festive the better - since it is Christmas).
Mix the dry ingredients together. *If you end up using white flour, cut the measurement back to 2 1/3 cups.
In a separate bowl, whisk wet ingredients until well combined. Combine wet and dry ingredients and mix until just barely combined.
Scoop batter into prepared muffin pan. The batter should come just short of the top.
Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
While cupcakes are baking, prepare the frosting by putting butter in a large bowl and beating until whipped. Add powdered sugar and beat for another minute. Scrape down the sides and add the maple syrup. Mix for another 2-3 minutes or until the frosting is fluffy.
Cool in muffin pan for a few minutes, than remove to wire rack.
Once cupcakes are completely cool, frost in desired manner.
Recipe adapted from The Village Vegan
Jana
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Cinnamon Caramel Corn
I promised more allergy friendly dessert recipes... so here is another one. I LOVE caramel corn - who doesn't really? OK, Brother #1 thinks he is allergic to caramel because it makes his mouth feel "funny" (aren't kids silly), so he won't eat it, but most people like it.
I like to use an air-popper when I make popcorn. They are inexpensive and so easy to use. Air-popped popcorn also makes a delicious, quick and healthy snack for after school or when you have the munchies.
I discovered brown rice syrup about 6 or 7 months ago and it is one of my new favorite finds. It is so much healthier than corn syrup, but can be used to replace it in recipes. You can also use honey to replace corn syrup but I like using brown rice syrup better because it doesn't change the flavor of the recipe like honey does. I buy mine through Azure Standard (it is a little bit cheaper than Amazon). I order a few jars when I am ordering my grains and coconut oil in bulk and it will usually get me through 4-6 months (depending on how much popcorn I make). I also buy my molasses through Azure Standard. I prefer to buy unsulphured black strap molasses, but any molasses will do.
Cinnamon Caramel Corn
12 cups air-popped popcorn (about 1/2 cup unpopped kernels)
3/4 cup sucanat
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup brown rice syrup
1 Tbsp molasses
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter*
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 squares almond bark (optional)
Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Line baking sheet with foil or spray with non-stick spray.
Air pop popcorn, pull out all unpopped kernels (I cracked a tooth once on an unpopped kernel and had to get a crown put on. So, for safety sake, it is best to remove them) and set popcorn aside.
Combine sucanat and cinnamon in a 2-liter microwave safe bowl. Mix well. Chop butter into chunks and place on top of sucanat mixture. * I have never used coconut oil, but I bet it would work if there is a dairy allergy. Pour brown rice syrup and molasses over everything in bowl.
Microwave on high for 30 seconds. Remove and stir everything together.
Return to microwave and heat for 2 minutes. Remove and stir than microwave for 2 more minutes.
Remove from microwave and add vanilla and baking soda. Stir to combine. The mixture should foam and rise. Pour over popcorn and stir very well to coat (although don't worry too much if all your popcorn isn't coated - you will be able to stir it better after it has been heated).
Spread popcorn mixture onto baking sheet. Place in oven and bake for 30 minutes, removing every 10 minutes to stir. This is where you can make sure that all of your popcorn kernels are well coated.
Remove from oven and spread out on wax paper or parchment paper.
Melt almond bark (I like to use 1 brick of vanilla and 1 brick of chocolate) according to package instructions. Drizzle over popcorn. When almond bark is hardened and popcorn is cool, break into chunks and give away (or you will be tempted to eat the whole batch!).
Recipe adapted from Our Best Bites
I like to use an air-popper when I make popcorn. They are inexpensive and so easy to use. Air-popped popcorn also makes a delicious, quick and healthy snack for after school or when you have the munchies.
I discovered brown rice syrup about 6 or 7 months ago and it is one of my new favorite finds. It is so much healthier than corn syrup, but can be used to replace it in recipes. You can also use honey to replace corn syrup but I like using brown rice syrup better because it doesn't change the flavor of the recipe like honey does. I buy mine through Azure Standard (it is a little bit cheaper than Amazon). I order a few jars when I am ordering my grains and coconut oil in bulk and it will usually get me through 4-6 months (depending on how much popcorn I make). I also buy my molasses through Azure Standard. I prefer to buy unsulphured black strap molasses, but any molasses will do.
Cinnamon Caramel Corn
12 cups air-popped popcorn (about 1/2 cup unpopped kernels)
3/4 cup sucanat
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup brown rice syrup
1 Tbsp molasses
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter*
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 squares almond bark (optional)
Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Line baking sheet with foil or spray with non-stick spray.
Air pop popcorn, pull out all unpopped kernels (I cracked a tooth once on an unpopped kernel and had to get a crown put on. So, for safety sake, it is best to remove them) and set popcorn aside.
Combine sucanat and cinnamon in a 2-liter microwave safe bowl. Mix well. Chop butter into chunks and place on top of sucanat mixture. * I have never used coconut oil, but I bet it would work if there is a dairy allergy. Pour brown rice syrup and molasses over everything in bowl.
Microwave on high for 30 seconds. Remove and stir everything together.
Return to microwave and heat for 2 minutes. Remove and stir than microwave for 2 more minutes.
Remove from microwave and add vanilla and baking soda. Stir to combine. The mixture should foam and rise. Pour over popcorn and stir very well to coat (although don't worry too much if all your popcorn isn't coated - you will be able to stir it better after it has been heated).
Spread popcorn mixture onto baking sheet. Place in oven and bake for 30 minutes, removing every 10 minutes to stir. This is where you can make sure that all of your popcorn kernels are well coated.
Remove from oven and spread out on wax paper or parchment paper.
Melt almond bark (I like to use 1 brick of vanilla and 1 brick of chocolate) according to package instructions. Drizzle over popcorn. When almond bark is hardened and popcorn is cool, break into chunks and give away (or you will be tempted to eat the whole batch!).
Recipe adapted from Our Best Bites
Jana
Friday, December 14, 2012
Cinnamon Swirl "Egg-less" Pancakes
Today, we are going to stray away from holiday treats - already. But just for one post. Since Brother #2 had a birthday this week, I wanted to do a fun post for him. When asked what he wanted for breakfast on his big day, he said pancakes. But I couldn't do just regular pancakes, so I spiced them up a bit.
These pancakes are so yummy and are great for a quick, delicious "special" breakfast. They can be used for any special breakfast, which could include holidays, birthdays or sometimes even just weekends.
These pancakes are so yummy and are great for a quick, delicious "special" breakfast. They can be used for any special breakfast, which could include holidays, birthdays or sometimes even just weekends.
I saw this recipe on Pinterest (where I get a lot of my recipe ideas) and knew that I could easily recreate this with my Fluffy "Egg-less" Pancakes. Not only are they allergy free - they have a lot less sugar than the original and a lot more nutrients!
Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
Cinnamon Filling:
3 Tbsp. butter, just melted
1/4 cup sucanat
1/2 Tbsp. cinnamon
Pancakes:
1 cup whole-wheat flour (or wonder flour)
1 tsp raw sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 cup almond milk (or any milk)
1 Tbsp no-sugar added applesauce
1 Tbsp water
1 tsp vanilla
2 Tbsp coconut oil (or butter)
Prepare the cinnamon filling:
In a medium bowl, stir together the butter, sucanat and cinnamon. Scoop the filling into a heavy-duty ziploc baggie and set aside.
Prepare the pancake batter:
Combine the first 4 ingredients and mix slightly. Add milk, applesauce, water and vanilla. Whisk together until just combined. Be careful not to over mix - it should still be lumpy. Set aside to rest for a few minutes.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. While pan is heating, add coconut oil. As soon as the coconut oil is melted, add it to the pancake batter. Return pan to stove and stir in coconut oil in to batter.
Cook the pancakes:
When the pan is hot, pour 1/4 cup of batter into the skillet for each pancake. Snip the corner of your bag of cinnamon filling and squeeze the filling into the open corner. You may need to knead the cinnamon filling before clipping the bag as the filling tends to separate.
When your pancakes begin to form bubbles, add the filling. Starting at the center of the pancake, squeeze the filling on top of the pancake batter in a swirl. Be careful not to get the filling too close to the side. You want to keep it about 1/4 of an inch away from the edge or it will bleed over (your pancakes will still taste delicious, they just won't be as presentable. Which, if you are simply feeding them to a pack of starving children, it probably doesn't matter. Cook the pancake 2 to 3 minutes, or until the bubbles begin popping and the pancake is golden brown on the bottom. Slide a wide spatula underneath the pancake and gently but quickly flip it over. Cook an additional 2 to 3 minutes, until both sides are golden brown.
When you flip the pancake onto a plate, you will see the cinnamon filling has made a nice swirly pattern on your pancake. Wipe out the pan with a paper towel (or don't if you are too lazy - which sometimes I am) and repeat with the remaining pancake batter and filling.
We liked our pancakes topped with a little powdered sugar. YUM! If you can get fresh fruit, that would add even more yumminess to these pancakes. EXTRA YUM!
Recipe inspired from Recipe Snobs
Jana
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Peppermint Sugar Cookie Bars
Christmas can be a very hard time of year for kids (and adults too!) with food allergies. With all the holiday parties, neighbor treats and goodies that are passed out everywhere -it seems, there is often so much that isn't safe to eat. Being that The Princess is still young, we haven't yet had to deal with her feeling left out because she can't eat the treats that are brought, given, etc... It also helps that most people in my neighborhood know that we (my family) are trying to be more health conscious and eat less sugar (I think some people think I am anti-sugar!) and processed foods in general and so we don't get many treats brought to us - which annoys The Brothers sometimes. Maybe one day they will be grateful. But that is another story.
I have a friend who has told me that her daughter sometimes has a hard time with her allergies and the restrictions that come with them, especially around the holidays. Every time the door would ring, she would hurry to answer it, hoping that just one time it would be something that she could eat. But, it usually wasn't. Of course my friend would have safe treats available to give her daughter so she wouldn't be completely left out, but that just isn't the same, especially for a child.
In case you have experienced this as well, I am coming to the rescue. My next few posts will be Christmas "treats" that (most importantly) are safe, but are also delicious! All the non-allergy folks will be wanting to eat them too.
This first recipe is a twist on my basic egg-less sugar cookie recipe. We love sugar cookies here at our house but they can be time consuming. Baking them in "bar" form makes it so much faster yet they are still just as delicious. Smashed candy canes on top add a festive holiday look. Plus, sometimes it is super fun to smash things - especially if you are a bit stressed by your holiday schedule and need to hit something!
*Note: these are NOT healthy in any sense of the word. I'm sure you can sub out the white flour for whole grain flour (like wonder flour or even spelt flour) but I haven't tried it yet. I also used butter and straight up refined sugar when making the ones pictured, but coconut oil and raw sugar would work just as well. In my defense, I took them to a Christmas party at our church and I wanted to make sure they would turn out. One day I will try and 'healthify' them.
Peppermint Sugar Cookie Bars
Cookies:
1 1/2 cups butter (or coconut oil)
1 1/4 cups sugar (or raw sugar)
3 Tbsp ground flax seed mixed with 9 Tbsp. water
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 oz. cream cheese (or tofutti, if there is a dairy allergy)
5 1/2 cups flour
3 tsp baking soda
Frosting:
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup butter (or coconut oil), softened
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 to 2 Tbsp water (or non-dairy milk)
1/2 tsp peppermint extract (optional)
3-4 peppermint candy canes, crushed
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray bottom of 9X13 inch pan (or line with parchment paper); set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer (trust me, you will want to use one for this), cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in flax seeds mixed with water, vanilla, and cream cheese; mixing well after each addition.
In separate bowl, combine flour and baking soda. Gradually add to the dough in the stand mixer.
Spread evenly in prepared dish, smoothing top. Bake until light golden brown or a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20-25 minutes. Place pan on wire rack to cool completely.
While bars are cooling, make frosting.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and powdered sugar until almost granular. Gradually stir in vanilla and water (adding more water to reach desired consistency). Add in peppermint extract, if using. Beat until smooth and fluffy.
When the bars are completely cool (I had to put mine outside in the freezing cold to hurry up this process; don't worry, they were covered! The frosting doesn't spread well if they are warm at all), cover them in icing, sprinkle with crushed candy canes and cut into bars.
Recipe inspired by The Busty Baker
I have a friend who has told me that her daughter sometimes has a hard time with her allergies and the restrictions that come with them, especially around the holidays. Every time the door would ring, she would hurry to answer it, hoping that just one time it would be something that she could eat. But, it usually wasn't. Of course my friend would have safe treats available to give her daughter so she wouldn't be completely left out, but that just isn't the same, especially for a child.
In case you have experienced this as well, I am coming to the rescue. My next few posts will be Christmas "treats" that (most importantly) are safe, but are also delicious! All the non-allergy folks will be wanting to eat them too.
This first recipe is a twist on my basic egg-less sugar cookie recipe. We love sugar cookies here at our house but they can be time consuming. Baking them in "bar" form makes it so much faster yet they are still just as delicious. Smashed candy canes on top add a festive holiday look. Plus, sometimes it is super fun to smash things - especially if you are a bit stressed by your holiday schedule and need to hit something!
*Note: these are NOT healthy in any sense of the word. I'm sure you can sub out the white flour for whole grain flour (like wonder flour or even spelt flour) but I haven't tried it yet. I also used butter and straight up refined sugar when making the ones pictured, but coconut oil and raw sugar would work just as well. In my defense, I took them to a Christmas party at our church and I wanted to make sure they would turn out. One day I will try and 'healthify' them.
Peppermint Sugar Cookie Bars
Cookies:
1 1/2 cups butter (or coconut oil)
1 1/4 cups sugar (or raw sugar)
3 Tbsp ground flax seed mixed with 9 Tbsp. water
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 oz. cream cheese (or tofutti, if there is a dairy allergy)
5 1/2 cups flour
3 tsp baking soda
Frosting:
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup butter (or coconut oil), softened
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 to 2 Tbsp water (or non-dairy milk)
1/2 tsp peppermint extract (optional)
3-4 peppermint candy canes, crushed
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray bottom of 9X13 inch pan (or line with parchment paper); set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer (trust me, you will want to use one for this), cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in flax seeds mixed with water, vanilla, and cream cheese; mixing well after each addition.
In separate bowl, combine flour and baking soda. Gradually add to the dough in the stand mixer.
Spread evenly in prepared dish, smoothing top. Bake until light golden brown or a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20-25 minutes. Place pan on wire rack to cool completely.
While bars are cooling, make frosting.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and powdered sugar until almost granular. Gradually stir in vanilla and water (adding more water to reach desired consistency). Add in peppermint extract, if using. Beat until smooth and fluffy.
When the bars are completely cool (I had to put mine outside in the freezing cold to hurry up this process; don't worry, they were covered! The frosting doesn't spread well if they are warm at all), cover them in icing, sprinkle with crushed candy canes and cut into bars.
Recipe inspired by The Busty Baker
Jana
Friday, December 7, 2012
Disneyland.. it is the Happiest Place on Earth - even with Food Allergies
When we first decided to take The Princess, I was terrified. What would she eat? What might she come in contact with? Would we end up in the hospital there in California (which has actually happened to us the first year we took Brother #1. An untimely asthma attack landed us in the ER for a couple hours - luckily, it all turned out ok)? I had so many questions about how we would manage the trip with The Princess and her dietary restrictions. Now, after 2 trips under our belt, I can say that Disneyland (or any Disney theme park) is probably one of the BEST vacations you can do with a food allergic child.
First, we were allowed to bring our own food into the park (an entire cooler, actually). We have always done it, but now I know that if we were ever questioned it would be allowable. This not only saves a TON of money (because yes, eating in the park can get very expensive) it allows us to bring in all kinds of food that is safe for The Princess. We brought in sandwiches made with homemade almond butter and nutella, crackers, fresh fruit, cheese sticks, homemade granola bars and a bunch of other stuff. We could eat at our leisure and not worry about finding safe food.
Even though it was cold, she loved the beach
Now, if you do like to eat in the park, it can be easily done with food allergies (although, if there are multiple food allergies it might get a little more difficult). The first time we took The Princess, her Granddad took it upon himself to ask every food vendor we passed about their food. I couldn't believe how much information the food vendors had about the ingredients in their food. It was very easy to pick which ones The Princess could and couldn't eat. I also honestly don't remember anything being contaminated with peanuts (except for the obvious things that actually contained peanuts). We never ate in a sit-down restaurant, but I have read that they do their best to accommodate food allergies. They simply prefer if you call in ahead of time and make requests in advance.
In the rain with her aunt
We did frequent the IHOP restaurant across the street from the main entrance and they were extremely helpful. Before any food was ordered, we were asked (before we could even bring it up) whether anyone in the party had food allergies. With 3 kids who were sharing parts of their meal, they didn't even bat an eye when we asked them to redo part of an order because something The Princess was going to eat had come in contact with Brother #1's eggs (this happened before The Princess had her negative test to eggs).
(on the Carousel - on of her favorite rides)
Disneyland is probably the cleanest amusement park I have ever been to. Although, the first time we visited with The Princess, I was worried about whether The Princess might come in contact with something by grabbing a wrapper left out or by simply touching a hand rail or another part of a ride, that never happened. It helps to wash hands often and try to get kids to not touch every railing and surface they come in contact with, but we all know that doesn't happen. I carried 2 epi-pens (and Benadryl) with me at all times and The Princess's daddy carried a 3rd epi-pen (just in case), but we never had to bring them out.
This is really beginning to sound like an endorsement of Disney theme parks, which it is not. Just my honest opinion about them. It can be hard to travel with a food allergic child, because there are so many unknowns and what-ifs and some people and places are unwilling to work around food allergies and special dietary requests. I simply want to alleviate some concerns for those who might be considering a vacation to a Disney theme park.
In light of my last post, it is never too late to make some memories with our families and loved ones (whether they are at a Disney park or somewhere else).
She is a real Princess now
Jana
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Favoritism, Smothering and other Food Allergy Thoughts
I need to start this post with an apology for dropping the ball last week. You may have noticed that Tuesday's post was a day late and Friday's post never happened. I do have a very good reason, not just that I was a slacker. We were out of town, in a hotel with no internet access (yes, such places do still exist. Much to our annoyance when we realized our mistake). I was able to post Tuesday's finished post using my sis-in-laws phone while waiting in line for a ride (does that give you a hint as to where we went?) but Friday's unfinished post was a different story. I had no access to finish it and therefore, it didn't get finished or posted. So, now that we are back home and I am back on the ball, we can get back on track.
I have been thinking about the topic of this post for awhile now. I never quite knew how to write about it... and I didn't know whether I was the only one that felt this way or if it was a common theme among food allergy parents. When I talked to a friend of mine (whose daughter has peanut and egg allergies) and shared my thoughts, she completely understood where I was coming from. I knew that I needed to find a voice for my thoughts and write a post about this.
Having kids can be downright scary. There are so many things that could happen to them, sometimes it is terrifying trying to keep them safe. I've always realized that my kids could be here today, and than gone tomorrow. Accidents happen all the time... we see it every night on the news. No matter how hard we try (talking about parents here) it is impossible to ensure our kids safety at all times. Despite knowing this, I don't spend a lot of time seriously worrying about my boys. They are smart, healthy kids who never seem in imminent danger. Than came The Princess.
When The Princess was diagnosed with food allergies, I felt like her life became somehow more fragile than her brother's. I worry more for her... often having nightmares where she eats a peanut (or some food with a peanut or PB) and experiences anaphylaxis. I want to keep her with me all the time and have a hard time leaving her with people. The only people I truly feel comfortable leaving her with are those who also have kids with food allergies. Only they really, truly understand the difference between "regular" kids and "food allergic" kids.
I struggle with finding a balance between constantly wanting to have The Princess with me and smothering her to keep her safe and letting her be independent. I don't want her to grow up being clingy and afraid of the world. But I also want her here - with us.
I am not a touchy-feely person by nature and have never been one to spend all day snuggling with my kids. Brother #1 feels the same and hates snuggling. Brother #2 LOVES to snuggle, but prefers to get his snuggles with Daddy. Than, we have The Princess. She is somewhere in between her brothers. She likes to snuggle when she feels like it, but HATES to be touched when she isn't in the mood (like when Brother #2 is following her around the house trying to sneak in a hug or kiss and she is screaming at him to stop!). Yet, I have found that I can't get enough snuggles from her. There are times when I just want to hold her forever... knowing there is always that chance (however slim it is) that it may be my last hug with her.
I feel like she gets away with more than her brothers do - even gets more attention. Which, could be in part because she is the only girl and also the youngest, but I feel there is more to it than that. I guess our family dynamics are lucky for me, because her brothers never question my motives or get upset that they are getting the raw end of the deal. I'm sure in other families, where the dynamics are different, it may cause friction and hurt feelings. I know what some of you might be thinking... "How can she say that she favors one child over another? That is so wrong!" It isn't that I don't love my boys as much as I love The Princess, but there is a special place in my heart for her because the chance of losing her seems more possible. Something as common and simple as a peanut.
I'm sure there are no right or wrong answers as to how to handle these situations. It is a continual balance - an ever-changing dynamic that I'm sure will continue to change as The Princess gets older and I have to learn to let her go, let her take control of her own life.
I have been thinking about the topic of this post for awhile now. I never quite knew how to write about it... and I didn't know whether I was the only one that felt this way or if it was a common theme among food allergy parents. When I talked to a friend of mine (whose daughter has peanut and egg allergies) and shared my thoughts, she completely understood where I was coming from. I knew that I needed to find a voice for my thoughts and write a post about this.
Having kids can be downright scary. There are so many things that could happen to them, sometimes it is terrifying trying to keep them safe. I've always realized that my kids could be here today, and than gone tomorrow. Accidents happen all the time... we see it every night on the news. No matter how hard we try (talking about parents here) it is impossible to ensure our kids safety at all times. Despite knowing this, I don't spend a lot of time seriously worrying about my boys. They are smart, healthy kids who never seem in imminent danger. Than came The Princess.
When The Princess was diagnosed with food allergies, I felt like her life became somehow more fragile than her brother's. I worry more for her... often having nightmares where she eats a peanut (or some food with a peanut or PB) and experiences anaphylaxis. I want to keep her with me all the time and have a hard time leaving her with people. The only people I truly feel comfortable leaving her with are those who also have kids with food allergies. Only they really, truly understand the difference between "regular" kids and "food allergic" kids.
I struggle with finding a balance between constantly wanting to have The Princess with me and smothering her to keep her safe and letting her be independent. I don't want her to grow up being clingy and afraid of the world. But I also want her here - with us.
I am not a touchy-feely person by nature and have never been one to spend all day snuggling with my kids. Brother #1 feels the same and hates snuggling. Brother #2 LOVES to snuggle, but prefers to get his snuggles with Daddy. Than, we have The Princess. She is somewhere in between her brothers. She likes to snuggle when she feels like it, but HATES to be touched when she isn't in the mood (like when Brother #2 is following her around the house trying to sneak in a hug or kiss and she is screaming at him to stop!). Yet, I have found that I can't get enough snuggles from her. There are times when I just want to hold her forever... knowing there is always that chance (however slim it is) that it may be my last hug with her.
I feel like she gets away with more than her brothers do - even gets more attention. Which, could be in part because she is the only girl and also the youngest, but I feel there is more to it than that. I guess our family dynamics are lucky for me, because her brothers never question my motives or get upset that they are getting the raw end of the deal. I'm sure in other families, where the dynamics are different, it may cause friction and hurt feelings. I know what some of you might be thinking... "How can she say that she favors one child over another? That is so wrong!" It isn't that I don't love my boys as much as I love The Princess, but there is a special place in my heart for her because the chance of losing her seems more possible. Something as common and simple as a peanut.
I'm sure there are no right or wrong answers as to how to handle these situations. It is a continual balance - an ever-changing dynamic that I'm sure will continue to change as The Princess gets older and I have to learn to let her go, let her take control of her own life.
Jana