I am feeling kinda dirty, or at least nonchalant about germs and such compared to many.

Do you worry about germs? What, Where and when? Viruses, bacteria, lice, STDs, HIV??? bathrooms, playscapes/ball pits, store-bought items? Does it bother you to shake hands or hug? Do you carry disinfectant wipes or hand wash?

This is an area where I seem to have relaxed over the years.....when I was a teenager and also a new mom, I was quite concerned with germs. By the second child, I could wipe the dropped pacifier and be fine about it.

How worried are you about germs?

cj/

And right off the bat, let me tell my pet peeve: women who leave the paper toilet seat covers after they've gone or pee all over the toilet seat and don't clean up. Grrr..... It's like I'm too clean to touch anything here, but happy to leave it for the next person! Freakin' princesses!

cj/

I'm not too bad. Pretty relaxed really. I never was even too bad when they were babies...

I do like for the kids to wash their hands a few of times a day (because I know darn well they don't do it after they go to the bathroom... they are boys!), in the morning when they brush their teeth, when they come in the door from school bus or other public outing, and before dinner. We figure that they are washing their own germs off as well as the entire school population's germs off!!!

If they miss a time or two, no big deal.

Knock on wood, neither has been to the doctor for anything major (other than annual physicals) since we started washing our hands more often -- about 3 years now...

PS My dad is a microbiologist and I was taught a lot about how GOOD bacteria is -- nature's balance -- when I was a child growing up. He'd show me all sorts of things in the microscope and teach me not to fear. I am thankful for that.

I always have baby wipes and Purell with me. When I get out of a store I wipe or Purell my hands.

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I've never lied to you. I've always told you some version the of truth.

Oh, I did find a skin softening antibacterial at Bath and Bodyworks. The others really dry out my hands to the point of peeling and hurting skin.

I keep it in the car.

I am adamant about washing hands before eating and handling food. I do not use antibacterial lotion (purell) on a regular basis. Once in a great while, I might buy it, just to have a little one in my purse.
Also, when it comes to public restrooms, I usually do not sit on the seat; just uncomfortable with that. I have told my kids that if they sit on it, to try to clean it first.

I think some of theses habits have saved us from getting a cold, but I am not trying to totally escape the world of germs since you do need some to build up your immunity.

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I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!

I don't think I'm too bad about it......but I might be!

I keep in my kid bag (not really a diaper bag anymore, but everything I need to survive a trip w/ my 6)

Clorox wipes
Baby Wipes
Purrell or Germ-x
BBW anti-bacterial lotion
Clorox anywhere spray
extra tops to sippy cups and bottles in case they get dropped
hand soap, in case bathrooms are out
dixie cups for drinking fountains (not so much for germs, but easier then the kids fighting over who get to go first)

When ever we go out, I wipe down the shopping carts before anyone can touch it, we wipe off and spray toilet seats when out, we always wash hands......This is actually something that I have gotten stricter on as I had more kids and as they are getting older. We went through a period of a couple years where we seemed to always be sick and it just kept getting passed around, got real strict with everything, and things have gotten better. Of course the kids still get sick, but now we have more "well" time then "sick" time......

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"You can never really pay back. You can only pay forward."

Wayne Woodrow “Woody” Hayes

O-H-I-O

I love this stuff.....I have one of these in all my purses, and kid bags, both vehicles and my kids each have one during the school year in their packbacks. I also use the Germ-x or Purrell, but they dry my hands out horribly.....plus don't smell as good.

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"You can never really pay back. You can only pay forward."

Wayne Woodrow “Woody” Hayes

O-H-I-O

The only time I'm a particular about germs is when I'm cooking. I'll wash my hands at least 25 times while I'm cooking. My dad's the same way so I guess I get it from him.

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"Let me watch my children grow to see what they become
Lord don't let that cold wind blow til I'm too old to die young'