Sunday, August 24, 2008

hello school year, goodbye...peanuts?

Week two of the school year is just a sunrise away. I have to say, aside from the usual beginning of the year exhaustion it's been a decent start. I'm still trying to figure out how in the world this is my NINTH year of teaching. Nine years! I have to say that if the first week is any kind of indication of what's ahead for the year, I think it's going to be pretty pleasant. Thank goodness!
There's just one thing: for the first time I have a kid with a severe peanut allergy. Along with having these signs posted everywhere in and around my classroom, you wouldn't believe (well, maybe you would) how much it affects day to day school stuff like what kids can bring for lunch, what treats cannot be brought for a party, and every food item has to be checked for the "may contain nuts or have been processed in a plant where nuts have been in the past ten years" warning. It says something like that, right? I got a lesson on using an epi pen, which is just a needle with epinephrine in it, and my student wears it at all times. I'm ready to stab it into his leg at any moment. Maybe I should have gone to nursing school after all. That aside as an extra concern, my kids are fun...at least so far. We can make it through a year without m&m's, granola bars and peanut butter sandwiches, right?
Here's a great story from last week. I hope there are many more like this throughout the year: One of my darlings came in from lunch, raised his hand and said, "Hey Mrs. Boyce, do you know about the Andy Griffith show?" I said yes with a curious smile to which he followed up with, "That Opie, he just cracks me up." I ask you, what kid these days watches the Andy Griffith show and is interested in black and white television?

8 comments:

Tyler and Lisa said...

hey nate...i don't know if you ever saw that i wrote a comment a while back. i was hoping that you would contact me through email. mine is roguep@netzero.com. Our friend is joining you at your firm. How is everything?? By the way...your wife is adorable!!

Natasha said...

glad your school year started out well, hopefully it can continue. sorry about the nuts though that really stinks, good luck with all that.

Corinda said...

Hi friends. I'm updating my blogging friends list(I'm a beginner) and found you guys from Dan Wood's page. I'm glad to see everything is going so well for you guys. If you want an invite to our blog, send me a follow up email to this comment. Have a great day! :)

Kris said...

ha-- this post made me laugh pretty hard. I had a student NOT tell me he was allergic to peanuts, and when we had NUTella with our crepes, he totally had some, despite my warnings. Everything was fine, his allergy wasn't severe, just hives and puffy lips, lol. But goooood times in the classroom! :)

Patti said...

I have never had a child who was allergic to nuts,or any other food.I hear it can be pretty bad. but you can have lots of fun snacks and goodies with out nuts. I hope you have a great school year and get lots of fun comments from the kids. I am siure you will they allays come up with something that makes you laugh.

Jenner said...

glad the school year started off well. my little guy zac is allergic to peanuts. we have to carry the epipen everywhere we go. after you read enough labels you get used to what they can and can't eat. good luck with that!

allison nadauld said...

Allergies are so crazy to me. I'll sure you'll be a nutty group anyway. Now, where are those house pictures/video tour? Don't think I've forgotten with all these darling and distracting posts.

Boyd Family said...

Hi Dine,
I've been WAITING for you to update your blog since March!!! I finally realized that I accidentally copied and pasted your weblink for March's entry onto my blog link thingy and that is why I keep seeing only that post. NOW I'm totally up to date on you and I feel satisfied! Thanks for the e-card by the way! You're the best!!