regluations keeps mom (me) in line

Regulations are a dirty word these days. Farmers don't like them, school districts don't like them, small business owners don't like them. It is pretty much universal. But rules keep society going and everyone on the same page about expectations.

I had a surprising run in with regulations recently that made me feel silly, embarrassed, and ornery all at the same time.

Visiting my daughter at her school for lunch, I sat next to her while she ate her hot dogs and kiwi. My son, who prefers not to be acknowledged during lunch, came over after his friends all went out side to say hello. He was waiting for my daughter to finish, because it was his job that week to wash her table.

Oral food allergies run in our family and they are different from food allergies in that the body mistakes a food for an allergen, starts a response, but quickly figures out it was wrong and stops it. There is not danger, and, while annoying, typically results in just an itchy mouth.

Kiwis trigger this response in myself and my daughter, and while she loves kiwis, she couldn't finish the four pieces she was served because of the itching.

My son loves to eat, and when he saw his sister wasn't going to finish the kiwi, he asked me if he could finish them.

This is where the faux pas occurred. I hate to see food go to waste, more fruit wouldn't hurt my kid, and so I said sure, he could finish her kiwi while he waited to wash her table.

He picked up the fruit and as he did, I looked up and saw the eagle eye of the cafeteria monitor shaking her head at me. My son quickly threw the food back on the tray and said, "Oh, maybe not."

I was then informed I was not allowed to re-delegate the food. Even food I pay for to my kids. It is not a big deal, I understand the reasoning, but it was an eye opener to see that at school, I am not in charge of my kids. Not even a little bit.