Talking Allergies

Hi everyone....Glad I found this place. Just wondering about other people's experience with summer jobs and allergies (peanuts, dairy, etc) . The kind of jobs young teens might be able to pick up during summer months (or part-time during school year) .....Seems so difficult to get work experience as a teen with allergies....in my area jobs are not very plentiful for anyone but for a teen who has food allergies not many possibilities......you know, restaurants, cafe, pizza shops and others are the areas that seems to hire.......kitchen helpers, dishwashers, etc......Of course, I would like to be able to do research or other interesting stuff for summers but would take any entry or labor kind of jobs.....Would like to talk to others in the same situation.....Have always tried not to let my allergies rule my life but attentive to them at the same time of course. This has me feeling left out and my friends are all landing jobs like crazy and me....I am struggling with this right now....Thanks for listening and welcome some comments or help from others ...Thanks.

If you look in the Parenting section, you'll find a thread about this topic.

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Moderator
Daughter: asthma, allergies to egg, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, most legumes (not soy) & penicillin. Developing hayfever type allergies.
Husband: no allergies
Me: allergies to some tree that flowers in May
Cat: allergic to beef, pork and lamb

Here's a link to the thread in parents:

http://www.allergicliving.com/forum/vie ... php?t=1163

You could also check department stores, and dollar or discount stores.

Good luck.

I worked as a cashier in a gift shop . . . I suppose with any job where one comes in contact with the public there is a risk, but at least this job didn't involve food. Good luck with the summer job search!

Could you advertise your services to babysit allergic kids? I realize it might not be steady work, but I bet there would be parents out there who would be interested. I would - I could offer a safer environment than some (no peanuts/nuts and young kids who understand about allergies and staying safe) and ideally know that the allergic teen would be more knowledgeable about food safety than some.

When I was a teen I worked as an usher at theatres and concert halls and food wasn't allowed. I don't know if a movie theatre would be that safe, but live theatres and concerts halls don't always let food in.

When I was a bit older I got in with various temp agencies and got work in offices that way, but I was a university student at that point...

Good luck!

K.

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Karen, proud Mom of
- DS1 (12 yrs): allergic to cashews, pistachios, Brazil nuts, potatoes, some legumes, some fish, pumpkin seeds; OAS
- DS2 (1o yrs): ana. to dairy, eggs, peanuts; asthma

I worked in retail shops through high school and early university - sometimes you have to put in a lot of applications to find the stores that need the help. But there are invariably some, especially over the summer and pre-Christmas. My brother with allergies worked for IKEA for years.

Retail teaches you lots of people skills, and there's no food.

Also, office jobs should be manageable. Watch things like Craigslist and newspaper classifieds.

I worked at a camp for my later teen years. The camp was completely peanut free and had many dish options at every meal. This does mean letting go of your son/daughter for two months, but to this day I'm a firm believer that a camp job can be the most rewarding summer job you could ever have!

I worked at a state park during my summer vacations. I didn't have food allergies then, but none of my jobs involved food prep. They only did that at the beach house.

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~*~*~ That which does not kill me only gives me hives. ~*~*~

Hi Flowergirl,

My daughter is going to look into working at a clothing store. If you're like her and like clothes, it's a good thing or a bad thing: you get your clothes at a discount but you spend all your paycheck!!!

You could try a video store, book store, public library. How about daytime summercamps?

Good luck.

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15 year old - asthmatic, allergic to cats, dogs, horses, waiting to be "officially" diagnosed for anaphylaxis
12 year old - asthmatic, allergic to tree pollen and mold, OAS
Husband - Allergic to amoxycillin
Self - Allergic to housework only

LIFEGUARDING

you breeze through the first aid portion since you already have a key handle on one of the major medical emergencies haha.

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PA TNA EA all my life...yet still finding time to bring aaaa back

That's a really good idea. My older brother was a lifeguard every summer for years, and he loved that job. He had an amazing amount of first-aid knowledge as well. I just wish my kids liked swimming more...!! (They're still young, though, so maybe they will improve on that front.)

K.

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Karen, proud Mom of
- DS1 (12 yrs): allergic to cashews, pistachios, Brazil nuts, potatoes, some legumes, some fish, pumpkin seeds; OAS
- DS2 (1o yrs): ana. to dairy, eggs, peanuts; asthma

Along with lifeguarding is swimming instructor.

One of my kids started with that, went on to be pool manager, and worked for the life-saving society teaching first aid, etc. He paid his way through college (twice) doing that kind of work.

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self: allergy to sesame seeds and peanuts
3 sons each with at least one of the following allergies: peniciilin, sulfa-based antibiotic, latex, insect bites/stings

I'm a teen myself and I'm working at a church summer camp. They're very accommodating with my lactose intolerance. They prepare a separate meal and separate snack for me. I also bring my lactose free milk but that's it. Good luck!
P.S. Also I should mention that the camp I work at is peanut and nut free.

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me: lactose intolerant

You can always work for a call centre setting up interviews, giving telephone surveys etc.

_________________
Moderator
Daughter: asthma, allergies to egg, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, most legumes (not soy) & penicillin. Developing hayfever type allergies.
Husband: no allergies
Me: allergies to some tree that flowers in May
Cat: allergic to beef, pork and lamb

So what are the working youth up to this summer?

Any problem with food allergies and how were they handled?

_________________
Moderator
Daughter: asthma, allergies to egg, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, most legumes (not soy) & penicillin. Developing hayfever type allergies.
Husband: no allergies
Me: allergies to some tree that flowers in May
Cat: allergic to beef, pork and lamb