Thursday, April 2, 2009

Fatherhood Friday 7 - Germy Germs

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Well crap. Here I am on Friday and the two ideas that I had just got poopooed by the beautiful lady sitting 6 feet from me at her computer. 

My first idea was to create a contest in which I will shower a lucky winner with amazing gifts of music (and in turn whore readers... cause who doesn't like more readers and in turn more blogs to read?)

But I haven't thought the contest out enough for it to be solid. So consider this a teaser. Something along the lines of: A whole week. 1 comment = 1 entry. Winner randomly choosen. Gets a song written about them or a topic of their choice. Song gets sent to winner and posted on my blog. If you recommended them and they win, you get mentioned in song as well.

My second idea was to put up the song that I sang to Isabella when I proposed to her (you can read the story on her blog)... but as I was laying down the tracks Isabella turns to me and says, "That's more of a Meaningful Monday post"... 

ugh. god. fine! 

So you're going to have to wait till Monday to hear my squawks into a mic on that song.

Let's talk about dirt.

I've met the gamut of people and their differences on germs and dirt. On one end you have the people who always walk around with their little bottle of Purel and their hand wipes, who wipe off the public doorknob before touching it, who refuse to poop in public toilets, who generally just stare at everyone like they are a disease and anything they touch is instantly plagued with the worst virus you can image. 

Then you have those people who think showering once a week is too much and think the dirt adds color to the skin. The kind of people who simply walk out of the public bathroom before you as to wipe their piss hands all over the exit handle leaving you either trapped in the bathroom or forced to share in their tinky.

Thank God most of us are in between. 

So how do you feel about your clones getting dirty?

My wife is always jealous of my immune system. I heal fast, rarely get sick (though when I do it's really bad), and when I do get sick I'm usually over it in 2 days. She, on the other hand, cuts herself with a piece of paper and damn near bleeds to death, and when she gets sick it drags on for about 3 weeks (and I mean "Draaaaags").

I have a little theory that the reason my immune system is a little bit stronger is because I like dirt and I like my body to train itself to like dirt and germs as well. I'm fascinated by the human body because of the way it adapts to keep you healthy, but like anything, it needs practice. What do you think vaccinations are? Dead viruses that your body can practice on. 

For this reason, I'm really ok with Niamonster getting dirty. I'm ok with her crawling around on the concrete and then shoving her fists into her mouth. Yeah, it's gross, but a little dirt and germs are good for her. If she's on a play date and wants to allow her friends to shove their slobbery hands into her mouth... go ahead! Again, gross as all get out, but will it kill her? No.

I like to think that by allowing her to come into contact with germs and nasties while she's at this age is helping her body practice for when a big bad germ or virus comes along.

Someday...

I can't wait for the day that her and I can play outside and get dirty and play make believe and not care what germs we come in contact with. Of course, her lack of speech and walking is sort of impeding that dream right now, but sooooooon.

Have a happy, germy, Fatherhood Friday!


19 comments:

-Justin said...

I agree. You have to be exposed to germs in order to know how to fight them off. I read somewhere that the reason kids fall is to learn to pick themselves up. I think it's the same with getting sick. The more they're exposed now, the quicker they'll get over things later. Thanks!

E.Payne said...

Getting dirty makes a kid strong. Do it now so you're not getting called to pick the little one up from school every other day because of all the germs there.

My 13 year-old is practically invulnerable and he's just about as dirty and germy as any human can get.

Jason said...

I hate dirt, so does my 7 year old. My 2 year old on the other hand bathes in it. When my 7 year old was a toddler he would scream if he had to walk through the grass, I have no idea where it came from because, I'm not that bad and I really didn't clean him or Purell him every 5 minutes. He was in daycare all day and never got sick, but he brought his germs home to me and I was laid up every other month...

Andrew's Daddies said...

I agree completely. You have to be exposed to germs and dirt in order to build a strong immune system. This is why some doctors say after a baby is past 6 months...to stop sanitizing everything. In some areas even tap water is acceptable. (like our city of SF).

Unknown said...

Dude, dirt is 'ok' and it always cracks me up to see the parents (usually moms) that chase after their kids at the park cleaning them up. I agree with the philosophy whole heartedly. Another thing that gets me are those ladies that say you will get sick because your hair is wet or because you go out in the cold without a coat--not that those are things I do with my kids, but it makes no sense to think that germs are attracted to the kid with the hair that isn't blow dried or the one that isn't wearing a jacket that is zipped up all the way. How smart are these germs anyways?

PJ Mullen said...

To quote my wife: "Kids need to eat dirt", my reply: "Awesome". Not that we don't keep things clean, but neither of us obsess over it and I think our son will be the better for it. Nice post, couldn't agree more.

KWG said...

Oh, we're so okay with Bea and dirt. We survived as dirty kids shoving crap (not literally) in our mouths and she will too (and has so far!). And I can't wait to make mud pies with her.

Now, back to that free music contest...

MileHighDad said...

Nasal germ spray is the best!

Mocha Dad said...

A friend of mine bathed her baby so much that she lost the ability to fight off germs. The doctor's recommendation was for her to take her daughter outside and let her roll around in the dirt.

BellaDaddy said...

U dirty Boy! Love it...and am on your side...Kudos!

ciara said...

i think i wrote either a comment or post similar to this once. my girls get sick, but not too often. they recover pretty quickly, too. i have thyroid disease so my immune system is whacked. takes me forever to get over cold/flu lol anyways, in my comment/post i mentioned how my 21 yr old son says that the reason people get sick is cos they're always washing their hands. they don't let themselves get immune to dirt. he says he doesn't always wash his hand. so he rarely gets sick, and if he does, it's never more than a day or two w not that major of symptoms. now i think it's fine to let kids get a little dirty, but sometimes i don't want them looking like they've been making and eating mud pies EVERY day lol

ooo can't wait for contest & meaningful monday.

happy fatherhood friday :)

your word veri is being naughty. word veri: pubal lmao

New-dad-Blog said...

My kid lives in a germ bubble I think. My wife had me buy these 5 gallon buckets of germ-x and you must apply it as often as possible to hold the baby.

People from the outside must go through a decomination chamber to touch the baby

Lauren said...

I don't even worry about my older two getting sick. They went through this phase where they would go "shopping" in the kitchen while we were still asleep. Then they'd fix themselves breakfast. Sometimes this included raw eggs and lord knows what else.

Yeah, if I was a germ-a-phobe I think I would have croaked of a heart attack by now.

And FYI, they've actually proved that the whole 10 second rule is really a 30 second rule.

WeaselMomma said...

I'm sure you'll find a happy medium between letting her get dirty and tastes her friends fist (they still do this in 5th grade, btw) and not letting her crawl on the floor at the airport.

Otter Thomas said...

I have absolutely no fear of germs or dirt. I feel like a boy should be dirty so I am ready for that day to come with my son.

Apok said...

I totally agree. George Carlin had a really funny bit about this.

Also, i love your contest idea. Hello ballad to donuts!

john said...

I love this post,to funny. the only issue i have is the bathroom one. I do NOT shit in public bathrooms, nor do i use my bare hands to open the door. Its either paper towel or my sleeve, and if worse come to worse I will use my left hand.

My kids on the other hand, well, they dont believe in soap. They might go in the shower, but IM really not quite sure what they do in there as the same soap has been in there for over a year.

Plus with the munchkins, its all about the front hose. I line their little muddy bodies up and spray them down before they come in the house. But were not talking a little dirt, were talking MUD...

my kids immune systems must be really strong.

21stcenturyman said...

I agree, kids and adult need to get dirty and be exposed to germs. Having worked in 3rd World countries, I know first hand that you have to be exposed to the bacteria daily to keep from getting sick, otherwise just one little amount and your down for the count.

Craig said...

You nailed it. Not exposing kids to dirt gives them a weak immune system for lift. God made dirt and dirt don't hurt...