Germ Factories

Yes, they are here.  They have been here for centuries and they are still thriving among us.  Germ Factories. My husband and I often joke that we are raising germ factories.  I watch my children share everything, which makes sharing germs a simple process.  Sadly, they don't even realize they are doing it!  Every time Logan is ill he asks, "What do germs look like?"  Like every other question Logan has, we turned to the internet for answers.  We looked at pictures of germs while Logan wrinkled up his cute, little, freckled nose in disgust. I reminded him that these little nasties are why his father and I are constantly telling them to wash their hands.

Living with children is always an adventure and when they are ill the adventure is taken to new heights. Eating dinner as a family becomes a test in how well you can guard your food from the toddler who is hacking all over it.  You wipe a nose only to have to repeat the process every few minutes.  Alex, who is 8, finally looked at me yesterday and said, "Why do you keep wiping it?  It does no good.  It just keeps coming."  Well, this is true.  I thought about it for a minute and then I said, "Well, I do laundry every day and it never ends.  There is always dirty laundry to wash. Do you think it does no good to do laundry since there is always dirty laundry waiting to be washed?"  He sat for a minute and then said, "No, because if you didn't do laundry we'd all be naked."  I explained that if I didn't wipe Kaitlyn's nose she would wipe it herself.  I asked if he knew how a 1-year-old would wipe her nose. His face wrinkled in bitter anticipation as he awaited my answer. I said, "She would wipe it on the furniture, on my shoulder, on her arm, and on you!  "Oh, gross!" was his response. He then left the room and reappeared a few seconds later with a fresh tissue.  "Here, mom. Wipe her nose!"

As parents with young kids we anticipate illness.  It's part of childhood to not only catch everything but to also pass it along to your siblings and friends. My children have been ill this year more so than usual, but they always bounce back.  I am so thankful for the amazing doctors we have (specialists and otherwise) and for medicine to help my gremlins feel better when they are ill.  I am thankful for all of my friends and family who offer to help out and constantly surround me with encouragement when I have sick children.

With every round of antibiotics we send the germs screaming in fear as they try to get away.  The factories fall apart with a loud crash and our children begin to feel  better. Eventually, more germs will take their place and they will rebuild and the process starts all over again.  My mother-in-law once said that the goal of a parent is to get your child to adulthood alive.  I think we're doing a pretty good job. ;)