Adorable Stuff My Daughter Says

Anyone who knows Lucy knows that she's precocious when it comes to science, particularly anatomy, and specifically, food allergies. The girl knows her stuff. She knows that white blood cells are really called leukocytes. She knows what auto-immune disorders, mast cells, histamine, immunotherapy, cross-contamination and anaphylaxis are and can talk about them intelligently. She understands the severity of her allergies, and it is a huge relief to us that she takes them so seriously.

When we go to Red Robin, the one safe restaurant we've found (where she gets raw broccoli, raw carrot sticks and a plain microwaved chicken), she always tells the server her allergies and asks to make sure there's no cross contamination. And 100% of the time, the server giggles, and smiles and says something like, "Wow! She is so cute!"

When we're at birthday parties and the host/parent tries to serve Lucy, she politely says, "no thank you, I have food allergies. I brought my own safe food." And 100% of the time, the host/parent giggles, and smiles and says something like, "Wow! She is so cute!"

When we met with Lucy's 504 team before school started, Lucy was with me. When the meeting was over, Lucy said, "Having me in your classroom is a big responsibility." And, one of the adults in the room, a member of her 504 team, a team put in place to take her allergies seriously, giggled and smiled and said something like, "Wow! She is so cute!"

When a child says, "please take me seriously," "please listen," "please don't kill me," never, ever giggle or smile or make comments highlighting the child's aesthetically-appealing diminutive appearance. Also, as a rule of thumb, if anyone is choking, or being mugged or having a heart attack or merely asking you if there is artificial sweetener because of their diabetes, never, ever laugh at them and call them cute.

Lucy knows that going out into the world can be scary and that she's constantly putting her life in the hands of strangers who do not understand the severity of her allergies. Yet, she's so incredibly brave. I am proud and amazed at how she takes complete ownership of her own advocacy.

She second guesses everyone, including me: "Did you read the label?" "Can you read it again?" "Did you check the ingredients?" "Are you sure this is safe?" "Have you called the manufacturer?" "Does this contain spices?" "Are you sure this is soy-based and not dairy?"

None of those questions is cute or adorable. They are the earnest questions of a bold and serious person speaking up and speaking out. They are the words of a fearless human being, taking charge of her destiny and not giving into fear. They are the pleas of a five-year-old who understands the fragility of her own mortality and is begging you not to quash her awareness and preparedness with your carelessness.

She's not adorable; she is a bad ass.

"Though she be but little, she is fierce!"
- William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream

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