It’s one thing to be in the season of college visits — that alone is rough.
But it’s another thing to realize your kid with severe food allergies may be going to school hours away.

The first college visit — close to home — didn’t hit me that hard.
It felt exciting, manageable, safe.

The second one — five hours away — that’s when it hit me.
ALL the fears came rushing in — especially the ones related to his food allergies and this next chapter of college life.

Because my brain goes straight to:

Will he remember to carry his EpiPen everywhere?
Will he always tell the server at a restaurant?
Will the dining hall take his allergies seriously?
Will his roommate respect his allergies?
And this one sounds silly, but it’s legit — when he meets a random girl at a party, will he remember he can’t just kiss anyone… because what they ate that day matters?

We’ve spent 13 years managing Mason’s tree nut + sesame allergy (since his first reaction that led to the diagnosis in 2012).

Reading and rereading labels.
Choosing “safe” vacations.
Finding local restaurants we can trust.
Packing backup snacks — just in case.
Explaining that tree nuts are not peanuts (yes… this happens).
Double-checking the planned food anytime he’s not with us.

An EpiPen always in reach.
Aaron or I always close by.

But the thought of him being that far away — where I can’t just get to him if he needs me —
it’s like losing a layer of protection… one that I can’t control.

Yeah, that’s when it all caught up to me Friday night.
I cried just speaking my fears out loud to Aaron at dinner.

When you’re a mom of a child with a severe food allergy, this isn’t just about a college decision.
It’s about letting go.

About trusting that all the years of teaching, reminding, and preparing… will carry him when we can’t.

So if you’re a mom:
Navigating college visits
Sending your kid off with allergies
Or in your feels because “five hours away” suddenly feels like five million…
I see you.

And if you’re a food allergy mom whose kid is already away at school —
share all the tips on how you sleep at night.
I have a feeling I’m gonna need them.