Reflections of an Allergy-Mama After a Trip to Sprouts in an Apocalypse: It’s Not What You Think

Reflections of an Allergy-Mama After a Trip to Sprouts in an Apocalypse: It’s Not What You Think

What is it about Sprouts that makes me want to cry? Most of you know my Sprouts horror story if you’ve followed me for a while. Ten years ago, right after Moses was diagnosed with more things he was allergic to than not, I checked an allergy cookbook out of the library, held my chin high and headed to Sprouts for alternative flours and substitutes. As I stood in the gluten free aisle, reading labels, I burst into angry tears when I realized that I had to put back an entire cart of alternative flours because all of them had a “may contain nuts” warning in the tiny print. I’m pretty sure I left with some chicken and potatoes. It was one of the lowest points in this journey. We’ve come a long way.

Since the confirmed arrival of a new, mutated virus in the U.S., I have watched the news, read my news feed and shook my head at the selfishness that it has revealed-on both ends of the spectrum of widely differing opinions. It’s exposing something so very ugly. How appropriate for this season of lent that we’re having to come face to face with our humanity and have to ask ourselves what things matter most.

I have personally avoided the urge to rush out and stockpile. It goes against everything I believe in. Sure, I bought a bigger jar of honey and an extra loaf of bread to freeze while I was at the farmer’s market. Nothing “crazy”. But. But...today I finally walked into Sprouts because we were out of all fresh fruit. And, because I’m among the privileged, I did rack up a little larger grocery bill. And I got it. Despite my best of intentions, I couldn’t help but feel a bit of panic as I looked at empty bins and the blank, desperate faces of the others. And I wanted to cry. I don’t cry usually...that part of me is broke, and it’s a long story for another post...but I wanted to. It felt like a flow of tears would have helped. Like we all just needed to feel something. 

I didn’t almost cry because the shelves were empty or they didn’t have what I needed. No, in fact, (fyi) Sprouts wasn’t THAT understocked really. I think I wanted to cry because I DID have everything I needed. And I realize that’s not the case for everyone right now. My husband works at a hospital. I’m pretty sure he is going to stay busy. Probably more busy than we’d like for a while. I only work away from home 1-2 days a week so childcare is not stressing me out. I have at least 12 rolls of toilet paper. And yet, I felt, however briefly, this fear of scarcity that is almost as contagious as the virus right now. Until that moment I really hadn’t. And if I, owner of 12 rolls of toilet paper, felt a little uneasy...I could empathize for a moment with those living paycheck to paycheck, worried about diapers and formula. 

So there were moments where I had to make a decission. I rolled by the aisle of gluten free nuggets.And they were still there! Something took over. Because, remember...my child can’t eat *just anything*. I began filling my cart. One, two, three boxes...oh they have BAGS. One bag...two...wait...I put one back. Maybe I should’ve put a few back. I don’t know. But I did start trying to think outside myself. What would happen when the next Christy came along who had a Moses at home. She’d be scared. Because, likely if her child has food allergies he also has asthma. He also IS that “just the weak” that everyone keeps talking about to calm everyone else down. His lungs aren’t ready for what’s coming, so that mama’s scared. And, that same mama knows her kid won’t be able to survive on the free sack lunches the public schools are handing out at the curb. And she’s feeling a bit panicky watching the few safe foods disappear. So I didn’t clear the shelf. I tried, as I walked down the aisles to think of “what do I NEED”? as well as “What might someone else need?”

I got in line, trying to hold my breath like everyone else. And when the exhausted looking cashier asked, with fear in her voice, “Did you find everything you needed?” I said, “Yes. Actually I did find everything I needed.”

She looked shocked. “Really? Nothing you needed was missing?”

“No.” I shook my head. “And you guys are doing a great job. You have the hardest job in the world this week. Thanks for showing up for us.”

Full confession- it’s probably because I had ice cream and apples instead of rice and beans in my cart, like some crazy crazy person instead of like a normal crazy person. So I’m not judgin’. But let’s start showing some appreciation to the store clerks!

So, here’s what I have to offer-

1. Don’t go to the grocery store unless you need to. Seriously. And if you do, ask someone who’s immune compromised what you can pick up while you’re there. And if you are that person, let me know. If I have to get out there anyway, I’ll pick up something for you. I know you’d do it for me. Let’s be like the fish in Finding Nemo. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, watch it. You have time. And you probably have Disney plus.
2. The beauty from ashes that has come from having a kid who is allergic to *almost* everything is that I’ve been forced to be adaptable. Why are people freaking out about eggs and bread? My kid has never had eggs in his entire life and has had approximately two slices of gross gluten free bread in almost ten years and that’s it. You don’t need what you think you need. The store’s sold out of rice? Have something else! I want to help you! If you’re baking and don’t want to waste those last two eggs on a batch of brownies...ask me!!! I’m the queen of substitutions. I wasn’t. But I’ve learned.
3. I have three boxes and one bag of Applegate Naturals chicken nuggets. Maybe we’d go through it in the time we need to be staying in. Maybe we won’t. But if you are that allergy mama and you didn’t make it to Sprouts in time to find the rest of the bags I left you, contact me. Seriously. If Jesus turned five loaves of bread and two fish into “enough”, he can do the same for us.