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.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving
We have so much to be grateful for this year. My family and I have survived a nasty car accident with an unlicensed driver almost two weeks ago now. It was a crazy time, but we are all so thankful to God that we are all here and healthy enough to celebrate a wonderful Thanksgiving. We also want to thank everyone for their well wishes from our family at St. Peter's to our friends and close family here at home. Thank you!
Thursday, November 1, 2007
School Days
Alright, so I have to get something off my chest! As a former teacher, I have seen all kinds of parents doing what they think is best for their children's education. And now that I am a parent doing the very same thing, the best for my child, my husband and I frequently make sure that we are doing just that, and not pushing our child into something that doesn't fit!
Education is such a valuable gift that we can give to our children. Like faith, education and the love of learning walk with a person through their entire lives. How can we ensure that we are providing all that we can for our children? Money certainly isn't the answer, contrary to some opinions. The best way that we can ensure that our children's education is meeting their needs is to become an advocate for our children. This can be super difficult when grandparents, societal norms, and labeling push parents into prematurely identifying something that isn't there.
Listening and teaching people were two of the most outward examples of God's love and mercy that Jesus portrayed on earth. Understanding and exemplifying compassion toward our children, and their learning, may be two ways that we can model Christ to our children. Once we are able to truly identify the areas of strength and improvement, we are better able to provide assistance to children in the form of classes, professionals, methods, technology, or especially our presence may be the most helpful to a child's learning. Instead of pushing children into learning, we as parents and teachers must guide our children's learning and support them. Children instinctively want to learn. We must not damper that enthusiasm with pressure from outside sources.
As a teacher, I found the most profound learning advances always came when students worked together and felt that they were in a safe environment to express themselves and appreciate others. Parents that were concerned about their child's education were always welcomed by teaching professionals. It was obvious that learning first started in the homes of many students, with their parents as models. It is critical to a solid education that parents of children of all needs be reminded that their child's first teachers and classrooms start in their homes. And it is critical that parents take their role as teacher seriously enough to ensure the gift of education remains sacred and valued. Thanks, for letting me get that off my chest!
Education is such a valuable gift that we can give to our children. Like faith, education and the love of learning walk with a person through their entire lives. How can we ensure that we are providing all that we can for our children? Money certainly isn't the answer, contrary to some opinions. The best way that we can ensure that our children's education is meeting their needs is to become an advocate for our children. This can be super difficult when grandparents, societal norms, and labeling push parents into prematurely identifying something that isn't there.
Listening and teaching people were two of the most outward examples of God's love and mercy that Jesus portrayed on earth. Understanding and exemplifying compassion toward our children, and their learning, may be two ways that we can model Christ to our children. Once we are able to truly identify the areas of strength and improvement, we are better able to provide assistance to children in the form of classes, professionals, methods, technology, or especially our presence may be the most helpful to a child's learning. Instead of pushing children into learning, we as parents and teachers must guide our children's learning and support them. Children instinctively want to learn. We must not damper that enthusiasm with pressure from outside sources.
As a teacher, I found the most profound learning advances always came when students worked together and felt that they were in a safe environment to express themselves and appreciate others. Parents that were concerned about their child's education were always welcomed by teaching professionals. It was obvious that learning first started in the homes of many students, with their parents as models. It is critical to a solid education that parents of children of all needs be reminded that their child's first teachers and classrooms start in their homes. And it is critical that parents take their role as teacher seriously enough to ensure the gift of education remains sacred and valued. Thanks, for letting me get that off my chest!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
