What Germs?

I'm not over the top, out of control about germs...but they do gross me out. I don't mind my kids getting dirty, I just don't like them getting germy. When they crawl outside they get covered in dirt and it's a constant battle to keep rocks out of their mouths. Part of me hates that it ruins their outfit for the day and I'm highly disgusted when I find the occasional worm in Ella's mouth. But, I really want to be the Mom that let's her kids explore and PLAY. I remember being in elementary school and fishing for tad poles with my friend Bethany. Her house backed up to a water basin and we would literally scoop up huge tad poles and arrange them in a fish tank. We'd then sell them on the side of the road. Apparently lemonade didn't appeal to us. I remember people driving by us and the disappointment I felt when they didn't stop. It didn't occur to me that there wasn't much one could actually do with a big wet tad pole once it was purchased. Anyway, nowhere in this memory did either of our Moms care that we came home filthy. I want that for Maxwell and Ella.

But, it's the germy stuff that gets me. I know there's a balance between keeping kids healthy and acting neurotic. So today when we went to the grocery store I went for it. Ella is sick. Again. Poor baby still has a fever and just isn't acting herself. I had to run in for a quick trip and it's a pain pushing the stroller in front and pulling a cart behind me. Sometimes I run over my own heals and I have to act like I didn't, because it's kind of embarrassing. (Actually, it's really embarrassing). Anyhow, today we did the cart with the toy car in front. And it was the cutest thing ever. Even Ella was laughing. I had to brace myself because there is no amount of Purrell wipes that can kill the germs crawling on the steering wheels. But they loved it. And it made me not care. They thought it was this great game and I shopped with one cart. I didn't even bring in the Baby Bjorn as a plan B for whichever baby is crying (which is good, because they now kill my back in it).

So we scrubbed their hands when we got home. And it was fun. And they are fine. As they always are.