Cold and Flu Season

I think I'm a germaphobe. Ever since my husband and I had our first child, I have been manic about germs. For a while I taught in a public school, where children came to school sneezing and coughing and felt the need to share their misfortune with anyone within a mile radius.

Our child was born in October, which is the height of cold and flu season. This only indulged my germaphobia. The doctor that saw our baby in the hospital said that we should not feel the need to let everyone hold her, especially if they seemed to be germy. That sealed it for me. Everyone had to sanitize their hands the second they walked in the door. My poor husband could not get within feet of the baby until he changed his shirt and sanitized his hands. I would take scalding hot showers before I would hold her if I went out. The showers may be a bit crazy, but the truth be told, she never had more than a cold for the last two years, and neither have we.

It seems that people seem to feel that germs are just a natural part of the winter season and we should just learn to get through it. Well, maybe not. Yes, there may be more germs when the human race is huhddled up in their cozy houses waiting for the big chill to where off, but shouldn't we be more considerate? Shouldn't we know not to shake hands with someone when our noses are leaking more fluids than the Panama Canal? Shouldn't we know that if we have a fever or cannot stop coughing that it would be best to stay home rather than infect the populus? Shouldn't we know that we should use tissues rather than our shelves?

Well, the truthis that there are people who just cannot avoid being sick and still have to work, go shopping, and circulate among the masses. So here are a couple tips from one mom to the world:

1) Always carry a small container of hand saniziter or saniziting wipes. Wipe everyone in the families hands clean after you have visited a public place like a library, museum, or resturant.
2) Wipe down grocery store carts or department store carts, especially during the shopping season.
3) Through diaper bags, changing pads, floppy seats, car seat liners, and winter gear in the wash as much as possible. Think of all the places that you have set down your bags or winter gear and then all the places in your home that you have set them down. Yuck!
4) Make an effort not to touch your face when you have touched public doorknobs, gone shopping, or pets.

Anymore tips? Please let us know. This the season.