I published a new article on Scribe Seeker!

Here's the link if you're interested in reading it:
http://www.scribeseeker.com/travel/travel-accommodations/staying-at-a-bed-and-breakfast-make-it-your-choice-next-time-you-travel

I can't crank out articles in the quantity I'd like to but I am enjoying this occasional foray into writing. Before I became ill with CFS I was a technical writer for some major corporations. I got paid a lot of money but I never enjoyed the work. Now, I'm writing about things I'm interested in and it's quite rewarding even if it's not paying me anything. Of course, I still have my work of fiction on the back burner and I hope to get back to work on that when time allows. Regardless, it feels good to use these old rusty skills again.

I'd love to hear your comments on the articles I'm writing.

I wrote an article, hooray!

A friend of mine has created a website for authors to post their articles. The writers make money when people click on an ad. I figured, what do I have to lose, so I wrote an article this week. I'm feeling pretty good about it so I'm going to post it here too. I'm hoping that my writing skills aren't too dusty after years of neglect. Let me know what you think!

Birthday Parties and Your Food-Allergic Child

When your child has food allergies something as simple as an invitation to a friend's birthday party can cause a great deal of anxiety. However, with a little planning and preparation, your child can safely attend a birthday party and have a great time too.

The first step is to contact the parents of the birthday child by phone or e-mail and inform them that your child has food allergies. This will help to get you over a couple of hurdles: You'll be able to find out what food is being served and you'll help the host parent to make any necessary accommodations. For example, the parent may choose to make a goody bag for your child that has toys or crafts in it instead of food.

Once you know what food is being served you can decide what's safe for your child and if you're comfortable with them eating it. It is not appropriate to ask the host parent to provide special foods for your child and never assume that the other parent is aware of issues like cross-contamination or hidden ingredients. If you know the other food that is being served, i.e., pretzels, potato chips, candy, etc. you can bring your own safe versions when necessary. Your child will feel better eating something that is similar to what the other party goers are enjoying and you can relax knowing that their level of exposure is reduced. This means that you may need to bake your own cupcakes or cake. It's helpful to double recipes and freeze extras when you're doing baking so you always have something ready on short notice.

While at the party there are several things that you can do to reduce your child's exposure to allergens. Obviously, when your child is younger, it's best if you attend the party as well. However, if your child will be attending solo, you can ask the host parent to help out with a few things:

1. Have your child seated at the end of the table where they will only have one other person next to them.

2. Have your child's safe foods served on the same party ware that the other children have.

3. Ask the host parent to provide wet wipes for kids to clean their hands on after eating. Of course, the host may appreciate it if you provide those wet wipes yourself.

Depending on the severity of your child's allergies you may wish to bring an EpiPen, and an anti-histamine. That way, if the worst situation happens, you are prepared and can give your child the care they need. Obviously, if you have an EpiPen you should practice with the trainer pen. If your child is old enough to attend on their own, have them practice using it as well and make sure they understand what the signs of an allergic reaction are.

Educate your child before they go even if you're attending. Explain that they should only eat the food that's provided or that you've identified as safe. Encourage them to wash their hands after eating and when they return home and to never put any thing in their mouths (i.e., noisemakers) that someone else may have used. Talk about the fun activities at the party and try to steer the emphasis away from the food.

If you follow these few tips the whole experience should go smoothly and your child can enjoy the celebration regardless of their allergies.