My 3-year-old son, Joseph, puts on his backpack, climbs into the bus and goes to preschool — down the hall. The school bus is really a board book that folds into the shape of a big bus and the teachers that greet him for morning circle are my husband and me. Yes, our family has entered the world of homeschooling.

Joseph’s life-threatening allergies to peanuts, nuts, wheat, dairy, egg and soy led us to the decision to homeschool, an unconventional choice, perhaps — especially for the daughter of a preschool teacher — but a choice I believe is right for us.

One accidental sip of milk during a weekend trip put Joseph in the hospital, struggling to breathe. The fact that his anaphylactic reaction happened under my watch made me even more hesitant to put my son in someone else’s care — even for a few hours at preschool. His allergies, in addition to having asthma, present several risks. For example, Play-Doh — a preschool mainstay — contains wheat, as do some pastes and paints. The thought of craft time sent my head in a spin, not to mention snack time.

The day I had to give my son an EpiPen Jr. shot after the sip of milk kept replaying in my mind. Only because I was sitting with my son, tuned into him, did I notice that he was moving his tongue funny right before he started crying and vomiting, signaling an allergic reaction. I gave Joseph the EpiPen Jr. within minutes of ingestion, yet his oxygen level remained low enough to warrant an overnight stay at the hospital. I could not bring myself to think about what would happen if that accidental sip had happened in a class of several children and it took too long for someone to notice the reason for his tears.

This was not the first time Joseph’s allergies or asthma sent him to the hospital. But it happened at a time when we were thinking about preschool options for Joseph. During our ride home from the trip, we started talking about homeschooling. The more we talked about it the more it felt like the right fit for us. My husband and I are lucky that our work schedules allow for both of us to be involved in the schooling. And once we found a curriculum we liked, my anxiety turned into excitement.

A couple of mornings a week I have a front-row seat to watch Joseph flourish in class, whether he’s tracing letters, making a craft or coming up with ideas about a story. It has been a pleasure watching him maintain his excitement for the lessons each day, and I have enjoyed preparing for class.

Joseph’s good friend joins him for one of the school days. The two friends learn well together and on the first day of school it gave me great joy to watch them happily munching on the school bus cookies I had made without fear of any unsafe foods in the environment.

A study conducted at the University of Maryland Hospital for Children focused on 87 families and how food allergies affect their lifestyle. According to the study, published in March in Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), one significant impact of food allergies was on school activities including attendance, field trips and school parties. And 10 percent of the caregivers in the study decided to homeschool their child due to food allergies. While we have gone the homeschool route, many parents send their food-allergic children to area preschools and have successful, happy experiences. I have so much respect for those parents because it can be a stressful endeavor and it takes additional work to educate the teachers and other parents. Constant communication is needed to ensure that everyone is aware of their children’s needs and of what to do to keep them safe.

The work those parents do to educate teachers, students and other parents paves the way for a safer environment for future students and helps raise awareness about the issues that affect families dealing with food allergies. I am a member of the local group NC FACES (Food Allergic Children Excelling Safely), which provides support for families with food-allergic children, including a message board where parents can swap ideas on various topics including how best to ensure a safe school for their children.

I have heard stories from parents who have had wonderful experiences with the staff and other parents working together to create a safe learning environment for all of the children, and I have heard scary stories about snacks being shared without regard for the food-allergic child or other parents resisting a rule that prohibits certain food allergens in class.

I am familiar with the look on some people’s faces when I tell them I’m homeschooling. I have chuckled along with comments about the bubble we have created for our son. I’ve also pointed out that this “bubble” includes soccer once a week, Sunday school (yes, I am in the class with him as a helper) and a wonderful playgroup with supportive parents.

I am no expert on the art of homeschooling and I certainly don’t have all the answers when it comes to decisions about food-allergic kids. But I do know my son. For now, the “Mondello School” helps him learn in a safe school that puts a big grin on his face as he climbs into his school bus for the short trip to class.

Contact Wendy Mondello at wmondell@nando.com.