It's Not Fair

The Cuddle Bear climbs in bed with us every night, which means she gets up when I do and we have a few minutes of just us and a cup of coffee first thing each morning. Week day mornings I choose everyone's breakfast to cut down on the before-school chaos, and today it was pancakes. Every month we order a box of food from this co-op (sort of), Angel Food Ministries, and this time there was a bunch of heat-and-serve pancakes in it. We don't eat a whole lot of processed or prepared food, so obviously the kids were chomping at the bit to suck these down. But the Cuddle Bear pulled out a box of Raisin Bran. I told her we were having pancakes, and to please put the cereal back. To my surprise, her little face crumpled, tears began to roll, and she wailed, "but I want Raisin Bran! It's not faaaaaaaair! I don't WANT pancakes." She went on while I empathized in my best "too bad for you" voice when she came out with, "I want CHOCOLATE pancakes!"

A-ha. See, here's the thing. Three months ago, the Cuddle Bear began breaking out in terrible hives whenever she ate chocolate or used cocoa butter products. We went to the allergist, but he couldn't tell what food allergies she had by the usual scratch test because- guess what? The Cuddle Bear is also apparently allergic to cuts and abrasions. Her skin releases hystamine and she scratches herself into a case of hives. Then, a blood test turned up that she is also allergic to dairy and egg whites.

Don't get me wrong. I know this is not a big, life-altering deal. But I feel so BAD. She's three. She's a trooper. But I was at a Golden Arches birthday party with Princess yesterday thinking, if this were the Cuddle Bear, there would not be a thing here she could have. Except apple juice. And the fries, I guess. We try to make her changes "special." And she hasn't complained. Until this morning.

And I. Can't. Fix it.