With the school season comes cold season

I’m a germaphobe.  I admit it.  I go nowhere without Purell.  It sits on my table, my purse, my car.  I put a big bottle in the car my daughter drives. 

Unfortunately, one month into school, here comes the colds!  What is it about kids who feel the need to constantly itch their nose all day?  Or chew on their fingers?  I can explain til I’m blue in the face that every time they put there hands in their mouth or to their face…they are putting someone elses fecal matter in there.  YUCK!  And you might as well stick your tongue in someone elses nose!

And here I sit…after everyone is off to school this morning…the smell of Lysol looming about.  Had to shoot the toilet handle, light switches and door knobs.  Can’t help it…trying to cut down on co-pays.

I remember years ago, we were at the doc’s every 5 weeks with one thing or another.  Strep, sinuses, ear infections, you name it.  And we have one of those doc’s that makes each kid come in for a strep test even though the others have it and are on antibiotics.  (Cha-ching!  Co-Pay!)

Once we went during strep season…55 people were in the waiting room just to see the NURSE for a culture!  (NOT the emergency room….the Ped’s office!)
I told Alan…if you weren’t sick coming in…you will be coming out!  We were an 1  1/2 hours into our wait…almost made it when….Alan just puked all over the floor in the middle of the room.  (He was like 4 yrs old)  You’d think that would have gotten us right in?  Nope.  Sat there another 30 min.   Strep!

After a couple years of no colds…they are teenagers now.  You know…they know it all.  Kaylee sneezed the other day.  Now, the rule of thumb around here is ‘sneeze into the arm’, ‘cough into the neckhole of your shirt’ and…if you are sick…turn light switches on/off with your elbow.  (Anal, but oh well)  So Miss Know It All, testing my patience sneezes into her hand.  I said, “Go Purell” (she was at the computer).  She replies “It wasn’t wet…and I’m not sick”.  (Eye roll, like I’m a moron)

Two days later…full blown head cold.  Four days later, all three are sniffling.  I keep my eye on her…she’s the worst one.  Blow the nose and appease me by getting a wee drop of Purell.  Then she opens the fridge and gets a glass of milk.  Fecal! Fecal! Mucas! Mucas! 

Maybe when they’re parents – or have to pay their own insurance – they’ll understand.