The mental load of an allergy mom is heavy, and there is often little certainty of when the load will lessen (and stay lessened). I’ve been an allergy mom since my son’s first anaphylactic reaction at 6 months old, and an eczema mom on the day he turned 3 months old; and oftentimes, I still feel like I’m utterly helpless and disorganized. Despite the occasional blues, knowing that I am not alone in this helps tremendously. Knowing that every allergy mom out there is venturing through a similar cautious, tedious, and intrepid path empowers me to find ways to better that path for us all. To stop overthinking and to avoid letting the anxiety overwhelm me. To continue proactively building that safety net around my child and others like him.
As allergy moms, we work tirelessly to ensure our children don’t just survive—they thrive. We strive to help them not only feel included but also truly advocated for. It’s easy to feel isolated in this journey, but trust that your efforts to advocate for your child will, in time, build your village of support. Besides your allergy care team, anyone can be a part of your village—whether it be your relatives, your child’s friends and their parents, school staff, restaurant staff, or even a fellow allergy mom across the world.
With the holiday season upon us, the stakes are even higher. Amid the excitement of holiday madness and the chaos of planning, we face a marathon of food-centered celebrations—from Halloween and Dia de los Muertos to Diwali and Thanksgiving, from Christmas and Hanukkah to Kwanzaa and Lunar New Year, from Valentine’s Day to Easter and Eid al-Fitr. Each brings its own risks hidden within traditions and feasts. During these times, having a strong “holiday village” around you makes all the difference. Here’s how to empower the people in your life to become true allergy champions.
1. Educate Through Your Child’s Story
Share the story of how you uncovered your child’s allergies and provide context. People remember stories, not dos and don’ts.
2. Explain Allergies and Exposure
Most people are more helpful once they understand what allergies really mean—that they’re not just “preferences,” but potentially life-threatening immune responses. Explain what the allergies are and how exposure may happen.
Provide examples of different allergic reactions and how quickly they can escalate into anaphylaxis.
3. Train the Trainer
Show them exactly what they can practically do to help. Teach how and when to use an auto-injector or nasal spray (use a trainer device to practice). Walk them through how to spot allergens on packaging. Train them on cross-contact prevention and explain why separate utensils, cutting boards, or pans matter.
Share a copy of your child’s allergy action plan and have them be a safety partner.
4. Empower, Don’t Scare or Guilt
Fear is a powerful hindrance to someone taking helpful action. Praise small efforts: “Thanks for double-checking that ingredients label!” Make gentle reminders and share your gratitude: “Thank you for asking if the snacks at the party are safe for him.”
Positive reinforcement is way more effective than promoting anxiety and frustration.
5. Help Parents and Kids Become Allies
People want to help, but may not understand the constant vigilance allergy moms live with.
Explain how advocacy means freedom: “When others look out for him too, it lets us breathe a little easier.” Share what’s worked for you with others — and invite them to do the same. Encourage them to remind others in group settings: “Hey, let’s check if that’s dairy-free for B.”
Help your child’s friends learn what’s okay and what’s not. Kids are amazing at adapting to a safe routine!
6. Keep the Dialogue Open
Once they become allergy champions, encourage advocacy beyond your village. Suggest they share what they’ve learned with others, and to speak up if someone dismisses allergies (“It’s not that serious” → “Actually, it can be life-threatening”). Revisit the topic occasionally—especially if there are any changes to your child’s allergies, meds, or tolerance. Invite questions! The more they ask, the more they care.
Having supportive people around you makes living with allergies safer and far less stressful—especially during the busy holiday season. Every thoughtful gesture, no matter how small, fills our allergy mama hearts and keeps us going. As moms, we’ll always be the front-line advocates for our kids and for allergy awareness. Still, we can also empower those around us—family, teachers, friends, coaches, and fellow parents—to become true allergy champions. Let’s keep building our village of people who understand, respect, and actively support our needs. We’ve got this.
