Ok, confession time. I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm a huge germaphobe -- to the point where I can probably be considered as having borderline OCD, that's how much germs freak me out.
I'm addicted to hand sanitizer. I literally cringe when someone coughs or sneezes. And the mere thought of sitting down on a public toilet seat without covering it in layers of toilet paper makes me hyperventilate a little.
But I'm starting to think I need to take a major chill pill, because unfortunately, my insane germaphobia is starting to rub off on my 6-year-old son -- and I really don't want him to wind up like me.
Think I'm exaggerating? Here are seven ways I'm turning my son into a total germaphobe.
- When commercials for Chuck E. Cheese's come on the TV, he immediately yells, "Germ-fest!" (We've never been there, and we're never going.)
- As soon as he gets home from school and comes in the house, he instinctively heads to the bathroom to wash his hands.
- When we go to other people's homes, he ALWAYS kicks his shoes off before walking through the door, because I have a strict "no shoes in the house" policy. (But who doesn't?)
- The other day, my mom went to hand him a $5 bill for getting a good report card. Before accepting it from her, he grabbed a napkin so he wouldn't have to actually touch it.
- At restaurants, he also uses a napkin to grab the ketchup bottle. (You never know where people's hands have been!)
- He also stretches his hands out to be sprayed down with sanitizer the minute the menus are taken away after we order. (Again, you never know who has touched them.)
- Upon entering the grocery store, he walks over to where the cart wipes are to grab one before I do.
Yep. I'm creating a mini-OCD-me. For sure. (Sorry, little dude.)
Have any of your bad habits rubbed off on your kids?
Image via peapod labs/Flickr
Ashley Is a Widow Who Stays Strong...
This Hot Dad Wants to Vacuum Your Rug
This Hot Dad Wants to Do Your Ironing
KStew Refuses to Shower
Comments 14
I feel bad for your son. Maybe you should seek counseling to work thru your paranoia. Germs are good for your immunity. Hand sanitizer is bad, that has been proven. All you need to do is wash your hands occasionally during the day and you are fine. Flus and colds are not going to kill you if you are relatively healthy.
Coles mom- you sound like a lovely person. Those kids in your son's class might just have an asthma cough, nothing contagious.
I'm OCD about cleanliness, but my kid isn't. She is actually helping me by having a carefree attitude about it, and neither her or I are ever sick! I do think that wiping down the menus is a little extreme though.