Share This
When I was a kid, my mom actually planned a playdate for me with a kid who had the chicken pox. Back then, there was no vaccine for chicken pox, and getting them as an adult is far worse than getting them as a kid, so parents wanted their kids to get them early. I got them and spent days wearing oven mitts to avoid scratching.
Nowadays, germaphobia has taken hold. Most parents panic at the very thought of their child being in the same building as a child with a simple cold. Antibacterial gel has been added to the school supply list along with paper, pencils and glue.
I wouldn’t set up a chicken-pox playdate like my mom did, and I do believe in the importance of washing your hands regularly and following other basic rules of hygiene. However, I don’t think exposure to germs is a terrible thing. I don’t carry Purell in my purse or panic if my kids eat their picnic lunch at the playground without washing their hands first. Nor do I panic if a one of my son’s friends shows up for a playdate with a runny nose or sniffles.
Prior to having kids, I thought that my middle-ground stance on germs was typical – but considering the looks I get from other moms when my kids show up somewhere with runny noses, I now realize that I was wrong.
In certain environments, there is so much antibacterial gel flying around that my nose goes numb from the scent. I’ve even seen a couple of moms put Purell on their baby’s feet following a visit to a kiddie gym class. Yes, I said FEET.
It now seems that every playdate is preceded by a bevy of e-mail in which each parent must outline any and all possible symptoms that their child (or any children their child may have come into contact with) has exhibited in the week leading up to the playdate. Followed by a second wave of e-mail in which the other parents specify whether or not they are OK with that child attending.
I am beginning to wonder if I need to create a liability waiver for playdates at my house: “I will not hold Ike, Moose or their parents liable for any illness my child may or may not develop following a playdate or party at their residence.”
One moment that did make me realize that we are all worrying a little too much about keeping everything completely clean and germ free occurred when our daughter Ellie was in the hospital (read more at: Oh Joy, What a Family). She had a feeding tube put in and I was very stressed out about safely and thoroughly cleaning it constantly. The doctor tried to tell me that I didn’t need to worry too much about that. When I didn’t calm down, he said, “Look, kids eat dirt for goodness sake, you really don’t need to worry.”
Has germaphobia gone too far? Are you a germaphobe, germ-oblivious, or- like me – somewhere in-between?
About the Author
Dianna is a wife, mother and the primary blogger at oyveyaday.com. With two toddler boys in the house, she has at least one “oy vey” moment every single day. She believes that the “oy vey” moments, while no fun at the time, often make for the best, longest lasting memories. Her goal is to engage her readers by sharing stories about her life as well as reviews of products and services that she likes… especially those that make life easier, and help her say “oy vey” a little less often.
