Talking Allergies

My four-year old went to see this Disney movie today with his Grandma. The first thing he said when he got home is the movie was good "but the beginning was bad". Apparently the little boy in the movie is a genius inventor, and he invents a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich maker....but it malfunctions and spews peanut butter all over the potential adoptive parent of the little boy....and the man turns all red and swollen and requires his epi-pen.

I didn't see the movie myself. I have been searching the internet trying to find a clip of this particular scene, but no luck.

Thought those with peanut allergy may want to be aware.

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6-yr old son: anaphylactic to peanuts; asthma
1-yr old daughter: No known allergies

Wow - it's almost a case of "be careful of what we wish for". We want people to know all about life-threatening allergies, and the various types of entertainment media (tv, movies) are certainly making sure people are aware!!

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

It's a double-edged sword. There's more awareness but it seems to me that allergies are increasingly being portrayed in movies as something to laugh at.

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15-year-old son: peanuts, nuts, raw egg whites, asthmatic
Self: allergic rhinitis, fragrance/chemical sensitivities, oral allergy syndrome

I'd have to see the clip, but were they just laughing at the allergic person or was he also portrayed as "bad"?

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Mum of 19 year old daughter - asthma and life threatening allergies to nuts, peanuts and seafood

Bugs Bunny has been making fun of blind and deaf people since I was a child. And don't say nobody ever died from being blind. When Bugs is blind he walks in front of a bus -- that would kill ya!

We're out of the closet now.

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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

Hi shirley,

I haven't seen it either, ds went with his Grandma. But from what I understand, the scene is intended to be funny. I don't think the man is portayed as bad. But unfortunately b/c the little boy caused the man to have an anaphylactic reaction, he's not going to adopt the little boy.

Grandma said ds didn't say anything about it during the show, but they talked about it immediately afterward.
During the scene, when the little boy was about to start up the pb machine, the "mom" figure was just yelling "No,no, no"....Grandma expl to ds that it would have been better if the lady had expl, "he's allergic to pb" instead of shouting "No".
Also....ds apparently didn't see the epipen part, or didn't get it. I don't know if they actually showed the epipen, but at the end of the scene we're given the idea that the man is ok. DS didn't realize until his chat with Grandma after the movie, that the man got his epipen right away.
Maybe that was just ds not paying attention, maybe he was freaked out by the spewing pb, maybe Disney didn't do a good job of wrapping up the scene, I don't know.

Again, I haven't seen it, but I'm a little taken aback that Disney would treat something like that as funny. I'm trying not to pass judgement until I see it for myself, but it's such a sensitive topic for me and so many others!

And even when I do see it, I myself am not an anaphylactic 4-yr old....so how can I truly relate?

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6-yr old son: anaphylactic to peanuts; asthma
1-yr old daughter: No known allergies

I'm not commenting on this particular movie as I haven't seen it -- but what bothers me is seeing anaphylaxis portrayed as a mild inconvenience or as something funny in itself. I think we'd all agree that we do our best to try to educate the people in our lives and in the lives of our children to help prevent mishaps and tragedy. I just feel that it takes us a few steps back when we have the media making light of exposing someone to their allergen(s). As for kids' movies and anaphylaxis -- I think that young children don't have the life experience needed to distinguish between someone laughing *with* them and someone laughing *at* them. I think the potential to make a young child with allergies upset or confused is big -- and shouldn't be overlooked for a laugh.

I saw this movie with my kids on the weekend. The pb scene wasn't bad. It was over pretty quick. They showed the man reacting when being sprayed with PB&J. Then they showed that the man was okay after his wife administered the epinephrine. If anything, I think it would bring more awareness to how severe allergies can be and how important it is to have the epi-pen on hand. (The woman used a syringe though, not an epi-pen).

Does the kid get adopted by someone? I haven't seen the movie, but the bits I've read on forums, I can't help but feel bad for the kid. He didn't intend to cause harm -- but he doesn't get adopted.

Is that the line of the movie -- he keeps not getting adopted for various reasons?

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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

He does get adopted. It's a happily ever after movie.

Thank you.

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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

Our children are both adopted, and though I have not seen this movie, I now feel this movie is offensive on two fronts. A warning has gone out to all adoptive families to seriously consider the appropriateness in taking their child to this movie. Permission has been given to share this information from another chat forum, so for those interested, I have included it:
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We feel that it is important to warn you about a Disney movie
called "Meet the Robinsons" that is now playing at many local
cinemas. The advertising for this animated feature makes it sound
like a great movie for any young child. Fortunately, one of our
adoptive parents alerted us about the negative adoption messages in
the story and the very unhappy experience she had with both of her
children who were very greatly disturbed by the messages conveyed in
this film. As a result, I went to see the film to decide if it
warrented putting out an alert to our adoptive parent community.
Indeed, I thought that the concerns raised were completely valid.

The movie is filled with extraordinarily inappropriate messages about
adoption. The basic story is about an adorable baby whose birthmother
leaves him on the doorstep of an orphanage. Portrayed as loving,
sweet, extremely smart and overly appealing, he spends the next 12
years of his life wanting a family and being turned down by one
family after another - in all, 114 couples refuse to adopt him. One
scene shows a prospective dad losing interest in adoption because
this very smart little boy is more interested in science than sports.
The prospective parents leave the disappointed child in a huff when
he accidently splatters them with some liquid from his science
project. This is supposed to be funny.

Since no one else wants him, the child invents a time machine in
order to go back in time to find his birth mother. The "bad guy" in
his time travel journey turns out to be his best buddy from
childhood, once his orphanage roommate. Now an emotional wreck
resulting from being left behind when the orphanage was closed and
shut down, the once-cute orphan is now mean and devious. Another
chuckle. Various monsters attack the child as he continues his birth
mother search. You get the picture !

I found "Meet the Robinsons" to be both tasteless and totally
insensitive regarding adoption issues. Please think very carefully
before taking your child to see it, whether adopted or not. I will
write the Disney Corporation to let them know about my concerns about
their flippent way of dealing with issues that are extremely
important and not funny for millions of adoptees and their families
in this country and around the world.

Feel free to share this message with anyone who you feel might
benefit from knowing about this warning.

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14 yr old daughter: no health issues
11 yr old son: allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, fish, sesame, sunflower, mustard, poppy seeds, green peas, some fruits, instructed to avoid all other legumes (except soy & green beans), pollen, cats, horses

Thanks Julie. We haven't seen it...and definitely don't intend to.

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DD age 9 1/2 -peanuts, nuts,
DD age 7 1/2 - milk, eggs, chicken, peanuts, treenuts, cats, dogs,
DS age 2 1/2
Husband- asthma, eggs, treenuts, fish, shellfish environmental
Self - penicillan, eurithromiacin, mild laytex allergy.

We've seen this movie and thought it was great - although I had forgotten about the pb&j incident.

For those with peanut allergies, watch "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs". One of the main characters is allergic to peanuts. I won't say anymore so I don't ruin it for those who haven't watched this movie, but it does stress how serious food allergies are.

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CracklinRosi

Allergic to peanuts, peas, cats, dust, ragweed, trees & grass (pollen season)
Toxic reaction to crustaceans.

I haven't seen it, but find the description of the scene offensive. Also, as someone who is adopted, the whole 'turned down by a bunch of perspective parents' is VERY insulting.

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DSs 7,7,9 all PA