THE ESSENTIAL PEANUTS: THE GREATEST COMIC STRIP OF ALL TIME

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the publishing of Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts comic strip, Abrams ComicArts is publishing a commemorative coffee table book honoring its legacy. Award-winning comics writer and historian Mark Evanier examines the cultural and historical context of Schulz's work through the viewing of reprints of some of the most iconic Peanuts strips to be published in newspapers. THE ESSENTIAL PEANUTS: THE GREATEST COMIC STRIP OF ALL TIME will also feature an introduction by MUTTS creator Patrick McDonnell, a foreword by Jean Schulz, design by Chip Kidd, and a portfolio of collectible Peanuts ephemera that includes: 

• 8 ready-to-frame prints 
• 5 vinyl stickers
•  8 postcards 
• Iron-on patch 
• Full-color comic book and more!

The book is being released on October 7, 2025 but you can preorder it now on Amazon.com. Timed for its 75th anniversary, The Essential Peanuts underscores how and why the comic strip transcends cultural, generational, and linguistic barriers to remain relevant and beloved. By exploring the creative ambition of Charles M. Schulz, his wry commentary on childhood struggles and triumphs, and his enduring influence on art, literature, and everyday life, Evanier not only celebrates an incomparable legacy but also reveals the universal appeal at the heart of Peanuts.

In addition to comic strip reprints and text by Evanier, The Essential Peanuts includes commentary and contributions from Robb Armstrong (Franklin), Derrick Bang (Vince Guaraldi and A Charlie Brown Christmas), Rob Boutilier (The Snoopy Show), Paige Braddock (Schulz’s pen line), Alberto Brambilla (Peanuts in Italy), Benjamin L. Clark (Peanuts paperbacks), Alexis E. Fajardo (selecting the Essential Peanuts), Ben Folds (the sound of Peanuts), Sarah Gillespie (editing Schulz), Chip Kidd (design of Peanuts), Amy Lago (editing Schulz), Mike Massimino (Snoopy and Apollo 10), Akio Matsunaga (Peanuts in Japan), Jeff Morrow (scoring Peanuts), Hilary B. Price (Peppermint Patty and Marcie), and Shuntarō Tanikawa (Poet laureate and translator of Peanuts in Japan).

Since the first Peanuts strip made its debut on October 2, 1950, it has made a lasting impression on the world. From the introduction of Franklin (the first Black character in a major syndicated newspaper strip) to holiday special viewing that has become family traditions to a modern-day animated movie that created a new generation of Snoopy fans, Peanuts has had a lasting influence that few works of art or literature can claim. The loveable loser Charlie Brown, had adventurous canine companion Snoopy, and their gang of neighborhood school buddies are truly beloved.

“Not many cartoons live into the next generation, and that probably is the best definition of art, isn’t it? Does it speak to succeeding generations? Real art, real music, real literature, speaks to succeeding generations.” –Charles M. Schulz

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PBS KIDS DVD: ALL ABOUT ALLERGIES

May is Food Allergy Awareness Month, a topic of particular interest to our family as my daughter has a severe peanut allergy. I have to embarrassingly admit not knowing much on the topic before the fateful day when we discovered my daughter's medical condition after she went into anaphylactic shock and came very close to dying. If you haven't previously read about our family's experience with food allergies, here is my post about it.

With 1 in 13 children now suffering from food allergies it really is important for people to have a basic understanding of the condition and understand this is is not a joking matter even though you often see television and shows use it as the topic of comedy sketches. Yes I'm talking about you Big Bang Theory!  There is a really good chance that even if someone in your direct circle of friends and families doesn't have a food allergy you will be interacting with someone at some point who does.  Food allergies are a series, potentially life threatening medical condition.  Since I didn't know much about food allergies until they impacted my family, I  understand how easily others can be in the dark about them as well.  So please take a moment to learn some tips about dealing with food allergies this month as a favor to this food allergy dad.

As part of Food Allergy Awareness Month, PBS KIDS is releasing ALL ABOUT ALLERGIES a DVD collection of shows from some of its most popular animated series that all have allergies as a topic. These episodes are a great way for children and their parents to learn about food allergies. Young viewers can join Binky as he works to understand his peanut allergy in an ARTHUR story, and Daniel Tiger as he tries a peach for the first time and gets hives leading to the discovery he's allergic to the fruit.

The DVD also features a WORD WORLD story in which Pig struggles to tell his friends that he is allergice to peaches after Sheep and Dog bring over a bag of fruit for him to make into pies. I was a bit disappointed PBS included a PEG + CAT episode on pet allergies because it can cause confusion with the food allergy messages.  Also the WORD WORLD episode doesn't really explain food allergies correctly which is troubling because people don't sneeze in those circumstances when having a reaction they break out in hives or start having issues with their body swelling up. Overall though this is a very nice collection of shows that provide very valuable information in an entertaining format.

ALL ABOUT ALLERGIES will be available at retailers across the United States beginning May 9, 2017. It has a run time of approximately 70 minutes. The DVD features five stories from four of PBS KIDS television including these two standout episodes:

ARTHUR --  Binky Goes Nuts

When Binky discovers that he’s allergic to peanuts, he has so many questions: will he be forced to live without Chinese food? Will he ever again be able to eat with his friends? And most importantly, will his Mom ever calm down? Binky learns that the best way not to go nuts is to be well informed, and to understand his allergy.

PBS KIDS also has a special website filled with peanut allergy information and tips revolving around the episode.  CLICK HERE to check it out.  They also partnered with Cherrybrook Kitchen to create a line of ARTHUR themed snacks including brownies and cookies that are peanut allergy safe to eat.

DANIEL TIGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD -- Daniel's Allergy
When Daniel tries a peach for the first time, he learns he is allergic to the fruit. Dad and Doctor Anna take care of him, and Doctor Anna tells Daniel how he can take care of himself, too.

For more useful information about food allergies, please visit Kids With Food Allergies or FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education).  Plus here is an informative video on the topic:

Lollipops That Fight Cavities -- Zollipops

It is exciting news that an eleven-year old entrepreneur and inventor from Metro Detroit who lives just a few miles from our home is being featured in the Ripley's Believe It or Not! Wild & Wacky Edition 2017 which just hit newsstands. In this book aimed for young readers that Ripley Entertainment Inc. created in partnership with children's publisher Scholastic, Alina Morse's story about creating candy that helps fight cavities is included with other profiles about weird scenarios and amazing oddities.  

Alina's questioning of her father about why no one made candy that was healthy for kids' teeth spurred the daddy-daughter duo to create Zollipops® candy.  Zollipops help naturally raise the pH in your mouth which helps fight the development of cavities and help teeth remineralize faster.  So these sugar-free lollipops are actually a good treat for your teeth -- what a sweet idea!  Alina and her Zollipops are featured in a two-page spread as part of a chapter on Entertaining Enterprises within Ripley's Believe It or Not! Wild & Wacky Edition 2017.

Zollipops generously sent A Geek Daddy some samples to try out but unfortunately they aren't safe for my kids to eat which added a twist to this review of the product.  For children like mine with a food allergy to peanuts it is too much of a risk to let them eat a Zollipop.  You see incidents of people having an allergic reaction are more likely resulting from eating something contaminated by peanuts during its production cycle than from an item that actually has peanuts as an ingredient.  There's the rub -- Zollipops are "manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts."

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, peanut is the most prevalent allergen of food allergic children.  In fact medical studies have shown the number of children with a peanut allergy appears to have tripled between 1997 and 2008.  About 8% of children in the United States are currently allergic to peanuts and while that may not seem like a large number if you think about it that is almost 1 in 10 kids so you are pretty likely to encounter someone with this medical condition.  Especially troubling about peanuts is that they cause more deadly anaphylactic episodes than any other food allergy.



Zollipops are being marketed as a healthy option for schools to provide by offering free samples for teachers to hand out to students.  Lollipops aren't a candy you'd associate as having peanuts as an ingredient and for those who don't deal with this allergy on a day-to-day basis the contamination issue may not come to mind or be considered as not as much of a concern as it really is.  I've witnessed on numerous occasions at school functions and sporting events, people trying to persuade the parents of kids with a food allergy that something is safe for a child to eat because the allergen isn't an ingredient even though it was "processed" or "manufactured" where contamination was a risk.  Microscopic proteins create these allergic reactions so unfortunately it is not as easy as just looking at something to see if it is safe, especially when it comes to peanuts.  If Zollipops wants to market itself as a healthy treat to a widespread audience of kids, of whom many may not have the maturity to say no when offered this candy, they really should have selected a production facility that wouldn't have presented a risk for a dangerous allergen that is negatively impacting a growing number of our population.

While Zollipops seem to be a sweet idea that I honestly find to be impressive and innovative, A Geek Daddy has to warn those with food allergies to be wary and advise against people giving them out in situations where they don't know whether or not a recipients may have a peanut allergy.  I really actually liked this product but unfortunately in this review A Geek Daddy has to give a head shake instead of a nod of approval to Zollipops because of the food allergy issue.  That being said, I don't want to be too harsh as this does seem like a nice product for people not suffering from a peanut allergy -- so if your family knows that won't be an issue go ahead and give Zollipops a lick!  You can find Zollipops at Costco, Meijer, U.S. Military Exchange, Toys R Us and Whole Foods Markets.

For more information about food allergies, please visit FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) at foodallergy.org.

BLOGGER BASH 2016 WAS A REAL BLAST!

  **  A Geek Daddy has been financially compensated as a BLOGGER BASH Ambassador. Opinions are honest and my own  **

I recently spent a few days on a yacht docked off a pier in New York City for the annual Blogger Bash conference.  This two day event provides an opportunity for online influencers to network with brands and each other to assist with enhancing the content and quality of their blogs and social media channels.  I've always found this conference an excellent opportunity to develop contacts, educate myself on new topics and of course have some fun.  This year was no exception providing me the chance to learn about products I wasn't familiar with, renew existing connections and build some wonderful new relationships.  There are innumerable professional benefits to attending Blogger Bash, but interestingly enough you can't take the event too seriously and must allow yourself to be a bit silly or goofy to really maximize the opportunity.  Whether it is hugging a Care Bear, hitting the dance floor with brand representatives or totally going out of your comfort zone by eating a cricket; embracing the fun atmosphere of this event is a key element to having it be a successful function to attend.

The highlight of Blogger Bash is the SWEET SUITE toy exhibition that provides a preview of the hot new products that will be showing up on store shelves for the holiday shopping season. Many of A Geek Daddy's toy reviews and giveaways are the result of networking at the Blogger Bash's Sweet Suite function which in addition to featuring a suite filled with great toys includes an evening of sweet dinner and desert options for its  participants to enjoy.  It was very nice to have some face-to-face time with representatives from brands such as Educational Insights, Hexbug, Skylanders, Spin Master, Uncle Milton and WowWee who have been very supportive of A Geek Daddy since I introduced myself to them during my first Blogger Bash experience.  Stay tuned because ageekdaddy.com will be having some new reviews coming up featuring toys from each of these companies throughout the remainder of the year!

I have to say my favorite toy on display at this year's Sweet Suite was WowWee's CHiP the robotic puppy.  Last year's WowWee MiPosaur robotic dinosaur was my daughter's all-time favorite toy review by A Geek Daddy and they've expanded upon that concept making it even better with CHiP. This robotic dog incorporates artificial intelligence that allows it to adapt to its owners favorite preferences.  It also comes with a recharging bed that when the toy is low on energy it will  independently curl up on to energize its depleted battery.  An included smart band allows CHiP to uniquely recognize its owner and provides new exciting avenues for interactive play.

One of my personal favorite recent toy reviews by A Geek Daddy focuses on Spin Master's RC Batmobile replica from the Batman v Superman movie and they also provided the toy for one of my son's favorite reviews which featured Legendary Yoda.  Because they've been very generous in sharing with us both their staff's time and products for reviews, I wanted to give them some special recognition acknowledging the Guinness World Record they achieved this summer for the Most People Drawing on an Etch A Sketch Globally at the Same Time.  Spin Master acquired the iconic brand earlier this year from The Ohio Art Company and celebrated the addition to its product family by accomplishing the Guinness World Record on Etch A Sketch Day (July 12) which marks the date in 1960 that the first Etch A Sketch was sold.  Since July 12, 1960 more than 175 million Etch A Sketches have been sold around the world!

Spin Master also teased an exciting new product that will be hatching this fall just in time for the Christmas shopping season.  Hatchimals will be interactive animatronic creatures that hatch from eggs which children have to raise.  After breaking out of a shell these creatures behaviors and personalities will change as they grow up from baby to adult modes.  Spin Master is being hush hush on what these Hatchimals will look like until the first one hatches later this year but they did show off what the egg these creatures will emerge from will look like.  From my discussions with Spin Master this looks to be a toy to keep an eye out for when it arrives at stores later this year that will incorporate lots of advanced features that are sure to delight kids.

I also made some nice new connections at Sweet Suite this year with brands A Geek Daddy hasn't worked with in the past such as Bachmann Trains, Carrera of America, LEGO Dimensions, Magformers, Sony PlayStation, and USAopoly that will hopefully lead to some upcoming toy reviews and giveaways for our blog readers and social media followers.

The most exciting and enjoyable aspect of this year's Sweet Suite for me had to be the opportunity to spend some quality time playing video games.  Skylanders brought out the new game it will be launching this October called Imaginators and allowed attendees an advance opportunity to play it well before it will be available to the public.  Instead of purchasing action figures to serve as your characters within the game, players obtain devices which allow Portal Masters to sculpt their own individualized digital characters to play with.  Imaginators lets players imaginations go wild in customizing their very own character creations to play within the game.  Every year Skylanders strives to incorporate an innovative new aspect to its game play and this year's Imaginator feature really should make a lot of this video game franchise's fans happy.  I know customizing the characters and surroundings in video games is one of my kids favorite part of playing video games and they are going to be overjoyed with what they can do in the newest installment of the Skylanders franchise.

I also had the incredible opportunity to spend some time playing LEGO Dimensions' Mission Impossible and PlayStation's Ratchet & Clank with some of the developers who worked on creating the games giving me some one-on-one tips while I played.  That really was an AWESOME experience!

With 27 companies showcasing hundreds of products at Sweet Suite, it would be overwhelming if I discussed all my experiences from this amazing night but keep returning to A Geek Daddy as we continue to share my family's experiences with toys, video games and other fun things.

In addition to Sweet Suite, Blogger Bash also provides a variety of other functions for attendees to participate in.  This year Blogger Concentrated provided a seminar that provided tips and guidance on expanding a blog's audience, improving website layouts, and generating income as a social media influencer. The Ride took attendees on a entertaining bus tour of midtown Manhattan.  Enterprise Ireland sponsored a session that showcased Irish businesses that would have an appeal to parents such as Arckit, Easydry, Lottie Dolls, Solvar, The Irish Fairy Door Company, and Writing for TiNY.  They also provided some incredible Irish coffee.  I had mine with whip cream, Tullamore Dew whiskey, and just a hint of coffee.

Blogger Bash started off with a brunch sponsored by the Care Bears where Sean Gorman, President of American Greetings Properties -- did you know the Care Bears originated not as toys but as greeting cards? -- discussing current products and projects involving Care Bears ranging from an original cartoon series on Netflix to plush animal dolls from Build-A-Bear Workshop.

The second day's breakfast was sponsored by Disney Junior's hit animated cable TV series Kate & Mim-Mim.  The breakfast included a discussion with the show's creators Scott and Jule Stewart who discussed their creative inspirations and provided a sneak peek of an upcoming Wizard of Oz themed Kate & Mim-Mim musical special.

Blogger Bash's keynote lunch was sponsored by the PEANUTS.  It included a panel discussion moderated by Good Morning America's Ginger Zee featuring some of the children who voice the characters in the brand-new animated Peanuts cartoons now airing daily on the Boomerang and Cartoon Network cable television channels.  The luncheon also promoted the PeanutsRockstheVote campaign which is a partnership between Peanuts Worldwide and Rock the Vote which is a non-partisan effort to increase participation by eligible voters in 2016's presidential election.

During the luncheon, attendees were able to ask questions to the Peanuts cast.  I asked how interacting together while recording their lines impacted how they voiced the characters.  Interestingly, the kids told me they don't get the chance to interact as they have their segments done in separate recording sessions instead of together as a group.  They interact instead with adults on the production company staff who read the other characters lines from a script as the kids recite their own at the studio.  In the end product all the taping sessions are merged and only the kids voices are used. Watching the Peanuts on Boomerang or Cartoon Network you'd never guess that these kids weren't taping their lines together at the same time as smoothly as the conversations flow together.  See you always learn something new at Blogger Bash!

Blogger Bash also featured a day long non-toy related products expo featuring more than seventy brands.  I learned a lot of new things walking through the expo talking with the people staffing booths there.  I've always respected Kohler for the high quality kitchen and bathroom fixtures produced by this Wisconsin company named after the town it is headquartered in but did you know the company also runs a number of golf and resort destinations plus has its own line of chocolates?  Do you know what the UL certification sticker on products you purchase stands for? Wow! there's a 5K running event now where where people are challenged with inflatable obstacles -- that's insane! -- well actually that is the Insane Inflatable 5K.  They have a one mile version too called the Krazy Kids Run!

There were a variety of challenges attendees could take on during the expo to win prizes including the Boudreaux's Butt Paste Diaper Changing Challenges.  While I narrowly missed out on winning the prize, A Geek Daddy did show up some trash talking mammas with a dominating performance in this diaper changing competition.

While blogging is often associated with women there was a decent representation of prominent men bloggers joining A Geek Daddy at Blogger Bash including The Architechnologist, The Rock Father, and BenSpark.com.

I have to admit that I'd thought of Armitron as being a line of plastic digital watches aimed at teen audiences before seeing their display at Blogger Bash.  Chatting with disabled Army veteran Noah Galloway who lost a leg and arm in Iraq, I discovered that Armitron really is an impressive brand.  Galloway, who has overcome his handicaps to become a respected personal trainer and recently finished third on the television show competition Dancing with the Stars, is a brand ambassador for the company.  He told me his story of how he was wearing a $20 Armitron watch on the wrist he lost to an improvised explosive device in Iraq and that same watch which was recovered by Army medics and returned to him still runs!  You can't dispute a brand's durability after hearing a testimonial like that!

Armitron displayed a variety of men's watches at Blogger Bash that not only are durable but are very stylish.  There are a variety of watches available to fit a variety of needs from athletic training to casual wear to professional fashion accessory with prices ranging between $20 and $200 dollars.  I saw Armtron watches that would be perfect for casually throwing on while working out at the gym as well as some really nice ones that would match very well with the suits I professionally need to wear to work.  If you haven't taken a look at Armitron watches lately you really should!

Speaking of fashion accessories, I also discovered a great brand of sunglasses called Soleurs.  They had a variety of shades that not only will protect my eyes from UV rays but also looked rather nice on my face.  I had a nice experience talking to the company founder while testing out a few varieties of Soleurs sunglasses on the deck of the ship that Blogger Bash was taking place at.

I love ice cream! So I was so happy to see Ben & Jerry's at Blogger Bash!

I also ate something a bit more unique enjoying some cookies made from of all things crickets.

Aketta maintains cricket farms which they harvest to produce a protein-packed, nutrient-rich and environmentally friendly flour that can be used in baking.  You can also purchase whole crickets from Aketta if you just want to pop them in your mouth as a snack or add them to trail mix, salad and other creative recipes.

After spending a days docked at Pier 81 learning about a variety of great brands, Blogger Bash concluded with the yacht leaving the dock for a nice cruise along the Hudson River to see the Statue of Liberty.  Not only was Blogger Bash a very productive opportunity to discover ways to enhance and improve my blog but by allowing myself to be silly and goofy during my visit to New York City I also had a lot of fun during my time there too.  I really had a blast at Blogger Bash!

That's not the end of the story though as every Blogger Bash attendee also gets a Sweet Suite box of swag filled with samples from various event sponsors mailed directly to their home's front door.  One last great perk of going to Blogger Bash.

For more information about Blogger Bash and how to attend in 2017, please visit bloggerbash.com.

ROCK THE VOTE WITH THE PEANUTS GANG

Three things I normally don't talk about on the blog are religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin.  This is one of the most interesting election years ever though isn't it?  We have a loudmouth candidate who offends almost everyone, a candidate who is all things to all people, even a candidate with some pretty revolutionary ideas about how we should all spend our time on Halloween evenings.  No I'm not talking about Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump or Gary Johnson but rather Lucy van Pelt, Snoopy, and Linus, who are joining Charlie Brown, Sally, and Franklin, in a very special election to decide which Peanuts character would make the best President.

After seeing the integrity, and smooth dance moves, that he demonstrated in THE PEANUTS MOVIE, Charlie Brown has earned my vote.  Who will you choose?  Cast your vote right now at peanutsrocksthevote.com.

While I'm not going to get embroiled in online debates pitting Republicans versus Democrats, I also won't hesitate to encourage people to take the civic responsibility of voting seriously.  With all the hoopla and hype surrounding presidential elections, voter turnout is still only around 60% of the eligible population with that number being even lower among young voters (18 - 24 years old) at 44%.  To help encourage more people to get involved in voting during this presidential election year, The Peanuts have partnered with Rock the Vote, a nonprofit voter education organization that encourages young people to register to vote.  When fans go to peanutsrocksthevote.com to vote for their favorite Peanuts candidate, they can also utilize the Rock the Vote's custom online voter registration tool so they can make sure to be registered to vote in the real life presidential election on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.

In addition to providing a nice outlet for getting disengaged people to participate in our country's political process, when young children begin asking about the upcoming election this Peanuts promotion provides a nice way to have an educational civics lesson that encourages kids to want to get involved in voting at an early age without having to talk about the specifics of what is sure to be one of the nastiest campaign seasons in modern history.  I'd honestly much rather talk about voting and what the responsibilities of being president are with my 7 year old twins by using Charlie Brown as an example compared to any of the real candidates.  So we're going to have a family movie night that will include watching THE PEANUTS MOVIE then have a teachable moment discussing why we vote for people for a variety of jobs; why it is important to vote; and what are the strengths and weaknesses of each Peanuts candidate are; followed by a visit to peanutsrocksthevote.com where we'll all cast our ballots.  Four years from now my kids will be old enough to discuss the real candidates with but for now we're just going to let them enjoy being carefree children and stick with basic discussions about politics and government using this nice Peanuts example.

The polling shows a very close race between all six Peanuts candidates.  Who do you think is going to win?  Go get your votes in at peanutsrocksthevote.com!

Get "Peanutized" - Turn yourself into a PEANUTS character

Hooray! Snoopy and the Peanuts gang are coming to the big screen this holiday season.  For our family, as I'm sure as for many of yours, its a tradition to watch Peanuts animated television specials during the holidays.  Halloween just wouldn't be the same without a showing of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown nor would Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Years without our family enjoying one of the classic Peanuts holiday TV specials.  Now we'll have another story featuring Charlie Brown, his dog Snoopy, and their gang of friends to enjoy when THE PEANUTS MOVIE arrives at theaters on November 6, 2015.



To help you get in the mood for upcoming movie, there is a great feature that let's people get "peanutized" where they can create their own personalized Peanuts avatar.  Visit PeanutizeMe.com to create your own customized image that can be used for a social media profile or as the wallpaper for your personal computer or laptop's screen.  They're very easy to create - just choose your character's gender, hair, clothes, and accessories and voila there you have it your very own Peanutizd persona.  Here are a few images of myself and my kids turned into Peanuts characters.  What do you think? Did PeanutizeMe.com capture our inner Charlie Brown?

THE PEANUTS MOVIE will be the big screen debut for Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and the rest of the beloved "Peanuts" gang.  Not only will this be their first appearance in a theatrically released motion picture, but it will also be the first time the Peanuts are presented in state of the art 3D animation.  In this film, Snoopy, the world's most lovable beagle -- and flying ace -- embarks upon his greatest mission as he takes to the skies to pursue his arch nemesis The Red Baron (oh by the way Snoopy we found your missing biplane the other day) while his best pal, Charlie Brown, begins his own epic quest.  From the imagination of Charles M. Schulz and the creators of the ICE AGE films, THE PEANUTS MOVIE will prove that every underdog has his day!

For more information about the movie, visit PeanutsMovie.com or follow @PeanutsMovie on Twitter.  Our family is really looking forward to kicking off the holiday season with a trip to the move theater to see THE PEANUTS MOVIE this year plus looking forward to watching it again and again in future years as a brand new addition to our traditional seasonal entertainment.

Don't Let Food Allergies Haunt the Holidays

Photo - Chandler Swink / Courtesy of Oakland.edu

On Thanksgiving Day when most of us were eating turkey feasts and watching football, William and Nancy Swink were deciding whether or not to remove their 19 year old son Chandler from life support at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital.  A few days earlier Chandler, who was diagnosed with a peanut allergy at the age of 2, had gone into anaphylactic shock caused by a food allergy reaction when he was somehow exposed to an allergen while being at a friend's house who was baking peanut butter cookies.  Only being given a 2% chance for survival by doctors, his family allowed Chandler to pass away that evening.  What a tragic way to spend a holiday and the nightmare scenario for any parent who has a child who suffers from a severe food allergy.

Chandler hadn't led an easy life dealing with bullying from elementary school through high school by students, and the parents of some of his classmates, who were outraged that food restrictions had been placed on them by the school for Chandler's well-being.  Despite this Chandler grew up to be a great young man according to all accounts from people who knew him that was going to school at Oakland University to become a nurse so he could have a career helping people in the medical field.  More than 600 people attended Chandler Swink's funeral saying good bye to a life that ended way too soon.

We discovered my daughter had a severe peanut allergy when she was around the same age as when Chandler was diagnosed.  No one in our family, my side or my wife's, has food allergies and we really didn't know much about the topic.  Then one day while our daughter was eating peanut butter she started howling and screaming.  Her face turned red with huge hives and her head began swelling.  I raced her to the emergency room at the hospital a mile from our home.  As we raced into the hospital my daughter's eyes and throat had swelled shut.  I didn't know if she was going to live or die at that moment.

The doctors and nurses at Beaumont Hospital did an exceptional job in saving my daughter's life and preventing her from suffering any long-term injuries from the incident.  Our family now is constantly on guard about avoiding situations that could put her in life in jeopardy again.  My daughter has to avoid ingesting food that not only has peanut as ingredients but also may have been contaminated by contact with them during the production or packaging of it.  Exposure to the proteins in the peanuts against her skin could also trigger a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction so you have to be careful of residue that could come from touching a surface or another person...yes playing with a toy, using a shampoo, shaking a hand, or even getting a kiss could potentially cause a food allergy reaction.  This can be so especially challenging to get your hands around because you are dealing with trying to avoid something at a microscopic level.

Like Chandler, we've encountered many people who don't think that our daughter's food allergy is "a big deal", don't want any restrictions placed on them to help protect children with food allergies, or just don't care and believe it is just our family's issue to deal with and if something bad happens it is my daughter or our family's own fault.  While we understand that our daughter's medical condition is our burden to deal with we also believe that when it comes to school and public spaces that there should be some level of safeguards in place to allow people with food allergies to be able to live healthy and productive lives without fear that someone else's actions could hurt them. 

Unfortunately, there are plenty of people in the world who just don't care about the safety of people with food allergies.  A recent incident in Michigan where a school board member named Linda Grossman joked "just shoot them" during a public meeting in regards to the concerns of parents and staff about food allergies that these kids should just be shot highlights the problems many families with food allergy children in schools have in providing a safe and healthy environment.  The Grossman incident was  followed up by a shameful editorial by the Detroit News' Dan Calabrese that criticized school district parents for demanding Grossman resign and mocked food allergies as not being a serious threat.  I also noticed tweets and posts from people defending Grossman because she was being sarcastic and arguing parents should be doing a better job of teaching kids to protect themselves.  This shows that despite the alarming increases in children with dangerous food allergies our society still has a lack of knowledge on the topic and a great deal of apathy towards people suffering from the condition.

So why should Grossman be condemned for an off-color joke?  Why should people be upset by "just comments" made by someone.  Well actually her comments were an action.  Grossman shirked her responsibility as an elected official by not acting in a professional manner, being dismissive of food allergies being a threat to the safety of students, and by mocking the parents and staff expressing concerns.  Being a school board member is a serious responsibility that Grossman didn't treat seriously and therefore she deserved to go.  Food allergies isn't a topic that should be joked about, especially when people are dying from this medical condition.

I'm so glad that Dr. Matthew Greenhawt, M.D. from C.S. Mott Children's Hospital jumped into the fray writing an editorial titled "5 Reasons We Shouldn't Joke about Kids with Food Allergies" criticizing people like Grossman and Calabrese for believing a joke isn't that big of a deal.  This doctor's critique really is a great way to make this topic a teachable moment for the community.  He writes "Food allergy is not a laughing matter, and these children should not serve as a target of derision." 

Here are Dr. Greenhawt's 5 reasons that joking about food allergies, especially in schools, is a serious matter:

1. Food Allergy is a rapidly growing chronic condition, affecting as many as 8% of children.  Reactions can be quite severe, potentially fatal and terrifying to experience.  There are no cures or treatments for food allergies.

2.  Children, especially those with chronic health conditions are fragile and vulnerable.  They should never be the butt of a joke.  This sets a horrible tone that it is acceptable to make light of someone, and demonstrates ignorance of and lack of empathy for those living with a particular condition.

3.  Accommodating multiple health concerns within a school is challenging, but us not an excuse for a public display of intolerance of any student for any reason, including a health condition, religion, race or income.

4.  School districts are a community, and members of the community must work together to solve problems.  Administrators must lead by example.  Derisive attitudes by school board members are counterproductive.

5.  Federal disability law affords children with food allergy and other conditions the right to seek accommodation.  It is the school's legal duty to comply as such.

Holidays can be a stressful time for people dealing with food allergies with there being such an emphasis on food being a part of celebrations.  Now is especially a time of year where the consideration and compassion of those who don't suffer from food allergies is appreciated by those that do.  It is also important to keep in mind that recent food allergy deaths have been of teenagers and young adults so if that age group is having difficulties just consider how hard and stressful it is for younger children preschool through elementary school age to deal with it, especially if you take the position that its the parents sole responsibility to make sure their kids can protect themselves.

Please keep in mind that an allergen doesn't need to be an ingredient to make food unsafe.  If someone has a food allergy please note that most food cooked in a bakery, processed in a facility that makes other food with allergens on the same equipment, or is made in someone's home is probably going to be off limits for someone with an allergy because of the threat of contamination.  It is more than just checking the ingredient label and seeing that there are "no nuts" to make sure something is safe.  People making and trying to give our child home made treats is one of our biggest headaches when it comes to looking out for our daughter especially around school functions, community events and even family gatherings.  It's not that we don't trust them or appreciate the offer but rather the risk of another trip to the hospital, or worse, just isn't worth it.

Kids with Food Allergies has two nice online pamphlets with tips for celebrating Christmas and Chanukah with children that have food allergy.  The web site Snack Safely also has a nice guide on checking out treats for food allergy concerns before serving them at a holiday function or party. Though the safest option at schools really is a food free celebration.

Don't let food allergies haunt the holidays!  How bad would you feel if you were involved in causing someone to have an allergic reaction?  How bad do you believe the Swink family or anyone else injured by food allergies will be hurting this holiday season?  Tis the season for us to show kindness to one another!  If you have a healthy child give thanks today and take a moment to consider how you may be able to be kind to a family that is not so blessed.

For more information about Food Allergies please visit FARE - Food Allergy Research & Education at www.foodallergy.org.