AIO because my son’s teacher gave him a bag full of his allergen for Halloween

My son has an anaphylactic allergy to milk, which means that if he consumes anything containing milk, his throat can close and it could be life-threatening. I understand that Halloween is a time when kids get excited about candy, and that many treats — like chocolate — often contain milk. Walking door-to-door is one thing, but in a classroom setting where the teacher is fully aware of how serious this allergy is, it felt extremely insensitive for him to be given a treat bag with items he couldn’t safely have.

It was hard seeing him get excited about what was inside, only to find out he couldn’t enjoy any of it. What’s especially frustrating is that there are safe alternatives and brands that could have been chosen instead. I’m not sure if I’m more upset about him being left out for the first time since discovering his allergy, or about the fact that he was given something that could literally endanger his life — I think it’s both.

Overall, I’m feeling really frustrated and upset. I know this was meant as a kind gesture, and I do appreciate the thought behind it, but it still feels really hurtful and insensitive given the circumstances.