Sunday School

My daughter started religious school once a month in September.  The first day was my worst fears for M. coming true.  The director, with whom I shared M's health issues and the need for a gluten free environment had somehow not imparted this knowledge onto the classroom teacher.  Apparently,the teacher had to leave orietation early and clearly, she did not read her binder.  When I dropped M.  off and advised the teacher that she had gluten free offerings in her bag to substitute for the food being provided for the ceremonious foods, the teacher looked at me blankly.  After explaining M' dietary and health issuesto a now very nervous teacher (and in front of other parents) I made my way to the Director's office to have another discussion.  There, I discovered that the grape juice, which I had been told would  likely be gluten free, was in reality not gluten free.  Well, off I did trott back to the classroom to tell my daughter not to drink the juice.  When I got there, I found all of the kids sitting at a table doing a Playdough activity while my daughter sat on the floor by herself.  I was shocked!  Playdough is made with flour so it is a contraband.  But, what really shocked me is my 4 yr old knew not to touch it and chose to sit away from the group.  My little social butterfly hates being away from the other kids.  And she LOVES (gluten free) playdough.   She made me so proud for making  such a tough choice!    Some more hastily and carefully chosen words and the now extremely nervous teacher was ending the activity and washing everyone's hands.

Well, here we are with class #3 approaching and I got a call from the teacher.  She wants to make latkes (potato pancakes) and bring them into the classroom for the kids.  She asked how to make them and her homemade applesauce (mmm, yummy!) gluten free.  She even invited me into the classroom for the last few minutes of the class to eat a latke with the kids so M. sees  that this is a safe space for her.  Such progress!  Whether this was the teacher's or dierector's idea, I care not!  I think it is fabulous!  I even offered to bring our wooden Channukah set that cannot be bought in stores to show the other kids.  The teacher loved the idea!  I am so pleased that an initial disaster can be turned into a collaborative approach to creating a safe and warm learning environment for M.  Happy Holidays!