Avoiding allery and asthma triggers at Old West festivals

 

 

We went to the Old West Festival with the kids this weekend. 

Son #1 and daughter Kitty had fun competing in a log sawing competition, followed by carving 'petroglyphs' at the Native American Village. 

 

Surrounding the park were several activities that looked fun, but Kitty rolled her eyes  (apparently she is getting too cool to participate in kiddie activities). 

 

She didn't want to "hunt for the Sheriff", put her in the jail, pan for gold, or participate in the watermelon eating contest.

When we saw the "needle in a haystack hunt", we had to turn around and walked the other way. Just walking near the piles of hay with kids clawing through them was enough to make us start sneezing and wheezing. 

Then Kitty spied the miniature ponies from across the park. She dragged us over there, but oh, what a shame, the line was too long! What a disappointment! 😉

 

We also told her that it looked like it was just the little kids who were riding on the miniature ponies. And lucky us, there was also a petting zoo. Great. More hay and dander. 

 

As I saw her eyeing the animals I distracted her by saying, "I know it's not Wild West food, but I think I saw a pizza stand on the other side of the park!"

Shameless, I know. 

 

But you've got to know what diversion tactics work for which kid. Of course she did bat her eyes and give me her biggest smile while sweetly asking if we could get a pony for the backyard. 

 

This has been an ongoing joke for years 

 

Sure! Let's get two so he has a friend!

It would be nice to be able to go somewhere without always scanning the surroundings to make sure there wasn't anything that was going to set off our asthma. 

 

 At least #2 son wasn't with us, so I didn't have to scan all the food for tree nuts!

Ah, my life as an asthma mom......