Comments about ‘Kids with food allergies often are bullied by classmates with 'food threats'’

My son was diagnosed with a peanut allergy, following an asthma attack, at age 1 1/2. We were not hyper-helicopter type parents and this was several years ago before food allergies got the attention they do now. I do remember one incidence of bullying in school where a classmate rubbed a wrapper from a peanut containing food on his face. Luckily, he did not have a reaction. But now as i think back my son was nervous about being around others, even his younger brother, who were eating peanut butter. One time friends of ours (whose son was the same age as our son) gave our young son a small Snickers candy bar. At the time i chalked it up to a mistake, but wondered at times if it was actually intentional. Either way, our son exacted revenge by vomiting on their carpet.

Schools need to deal with bullying of any type in a serious manner. I think kids often reflect parental attitudes and the home environment. Perhaps parents of kids who engage in bullying should be required to learn about the ways bullying affects victims.

Our son, now 27 is still allergic to peanuts.