During the first year of my diagnosis I was not very sensitive at all.  I had no reaction at all.  Now I am very sensitive.

A few years ago we used to have a "Safe House" in our area.  There was a plaque on our front gate saying we were a safe house.  Any child going past our house on their way to or from school, if they felt threatened an any way, could come and ring our doorbell.  Our instructions were very clear.:

• Do not let them inside - talk to them at the door.
• Listen to them - reassure them
• Do not give them anythig to eat - they may have an allergy
• Do not hand them back to anyone purporting to be their parents or a friend.
• Call the local police, and let them take the responsibility.

I would never give any child food without first asking their parent.

I have operated many shopping centre displays during coeliac awareness week, and have had manufacturers provide GF cookies etc. to give away.  If a child asks for one of them, I always ask the adult with them " Is it OK for them to have this?"  If they are unaccompanied I ask them to get their mum or dad to come and see me and I will then give them one.

Alan
--- On Mon, 2/6/08, Roberta <WeAdoptKids@...> wrote:

From: Roberta <WeAdoptKids@...>
Subject: [USASillyYaks] OH MY GOODNESS....it happened :0(
To: USASillyYaks@yahoogroups.com
Received: Monday, 2 June, 2008, 9:08 AM

Today our little guy was given several cookies at church. The poor
lady who did it felt so bad. I am not sure what I am to be looking
for here. I thought I had things pretty well set up for him, snacks
packed, formula in the bag times two, extra food just in case....the
sign in board has a note place, I wrote no food except what is in
bag. I told that lady in charge, not the one sho gave the cookies.
Then they had a changing of the guard so to speak.

I feel so bad for him. Tell me, what am I to watch for. He has been
acting totally fine. He has only been totally gf for about 4 and a
half months. Beofre that he ate what people gave him.

Like I said, the poor lady felt so very bad about it all. I would not
have even known except he had cookie crumbs on his chin. She and I
talked about using on of the sticky tags to put on him and to put
instructions there.

I sure can use some ideas here.

Wow. Just not sure how I am feeling, except I can honestly say I am
not upset with her at all. I know that things can happen, I just was
not prepared for this one.

Hugs,
Roberta