This is when my husband and I would start getting our asthmatic and allergic daughter ready to go back to school.

Asthma inhalers for her backpack? Check. Epinephrine, in case she had a serious allergic reaction? Check. Claritin, Nasonex and other medications to clear up those stuffed sinuses? Check.

Notes from her doctor to go in the school files? Ready to go. Permission forms from us allowing school officials to administer drugs? Ditto.

Those were the days. Last night, this teenage daughter came into the room where I was watching the Olympics and told me she needed a nebulizer treatment (for asthma). “Can I help,” I asked. “Mom, you know I know how to do all that,” she replied indignantly, turning on her heels.

Indeed. She’s been puffing on the inhaler, taking the medications, and relying on the nebulizer for years now. She knows her body, when she’s not feeling right, and what she needs to do.

I’m lucky my daughter never had a food allergy, like 2.2 million American kids. That was one less thing to worry about.

For those of you struggling with the similar issues, I came across two helpful documents from the American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology among today’s emails. One is a back-to-school checklist for parents of children with asthma and allergies. It’s pretty simple, but it contains some useful reminders of things you’ll want to be sure to do.

File with Judith Graham on Chicago Tribune