Author | |
SeaStar Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 16 2006
Online Status: Offline Posts: 9068
|
Posted: Oct 31 2009 at 9:34pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
The H1n1 flu is rampant right now in my town. At mass we no longer have the cup or the sign of peace. But my dc are still putting their hands all over the pews and hymn books, and then in their mouths, noses, eyes...
I have gone over and over with them about germs, etc, but at 5 and 6 it is not getting through.
Would it be too awful if, before mass, I discretely used a hand wipe on our pew and the one in front of us? It might help, it might not, but it sure would make me feel better, especially since so far the vaccine has not been widely available here....
__________________ Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
|
Back to Top |
|
|
LucyP Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 05 2007
Online Status: Offline Posts: 791
|
Posted: Nov 02 2009 at 6:29am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I don't think it would be rude. You need to do what it takes to be able to feel relaxed and able to focus sometimes - and you would also be protecting the people sitting near you.
|
Back to Top |
|
|
4 lads mom Forum All-Star
Joined: Sept 26 2006
Online Status: Offline Posts: 1944
|
Posted: Nov 02 2009 at 6:35am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Myself, a complete germ-a-phobe, I say you are a genius!!! I might start doing that myself...I can't believe I didn't think of it!!
Seriously...I don't think it is a bad idea!
__________________ Mom of four brave lads and one sweet lassie
Scenes From This and That
|
Back to Top |
|
|
mom2mpr Forum All-Star
Joined: May 16 2006 Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline Posts: 1550
|
Posted: Nov 02 2009 at 6:55am | IP Logged
|
|
|
A friend with a child with health issues, has her other children (mostly the little ones) wear knit (or snow) gloves and throws them in the laundry on returning home.
An idea for ya. And no, I don't think you are weird.
Anne
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Shari in NY Forum Pro
Joined: Nov 23 2005 Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline Posts: 358
|
Posted: Nov 02 2009 at 7:16am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Go ahead, Melinda! Why not? No one will think anything about it and maybe will want to use your wipes. In our church we are also foregoing wine, nodding instead of shaking hands, ect. But at the end of mass we all trouped our and shook Father's hand So far, he at least is staying healthy! (Maybe it helps his immune system to be exposed to everyone's germs??)
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Mimip Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 17 2009 Location: Florida
Online Status: Offline Posts: 1526
|
Posted: Nov 02 2009 at 7:25am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Wipe away and no it is not rude to clean up for your kids!
__________________ In Christ,
Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
|
Back to Top |
|
|
DominaCaeli Forum All-Star
Joined: April 24 2007
Online Status: Offline Posts: 3711
|
Posted: Nov 02 2009 at 9:30am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I did this just this Sunday. I think people understand when you have a bunch of little ones in tow who put their hands all over everything and then in their mouths. (Or at least I hope people do! )
__________________ Blessings,
Celeste
Joyous Lessons
Mommy to six: three boys (8, 4, newborn) and four girls (7, 5, 2, and 1)
|
Back to Top |
|
|
folklaur Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline Posts: 2816
|
Posted: Nov 02 2009 at 10:53am | IP Logged
|
|
|
rude? no, i don't think so at all!!!!
|
Back to Top |
|
|
SeaStar Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 16 2006
Online Status: Offline Posts: 9068
|
Posted: Nov 02 2009 at 11:44am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Shari in NY wrote:
Go ahead, Melinda! Why not? No one will think anything about it and maybe will want to use your wipes. In our church we are also foregoing wine, nodding instead of shaking hands, ect. But at the end of mass we all trouped our and shook Father's hand So far, he at least is staying healthy! (Maybe it helps his immune system to be exposed to everyone's germs??) |
|
|
Yeah- I thought of that yesterday after mass as I was shaking Father's hand... the irony [LOL
Ok, so I am going to be brave next week and wipe down the area my dc are hanging onto plus the covers of the hymnals. Thanks, everyone!
I am becoming a wipe-a-holic... I even carry them in a plastic bag in my purse! We were sick *all* winter last year, one thing after another. I am trying everything I can think of to make this winter easier. I mean- sheesh! We should have super-immune systems by now.
__________________ Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
|
Back to Top |
|
|
JodieLyn Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006 Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline Posts: 12234
|
Posted: Nov 02 2009 at 11:49am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Ah but Father won't have to sit around after the hand shaking.. he can go and wash his hands right away when people leave
__________________ Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Paula in MN Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 25 2006 Location: Minnesota
Online Status: Offline Posts: 4064
|
Posted: Nov 02 2009 at 12:59pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
It's a great idea!
__________________ Paula
A Catholic Harvest
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Mary K Forum All-Star
Joined: May 14 2005
Online Status: Offline Posts: 945
|
Posted: Nov 02 2009 at 7:30pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
my friend has hand sanitizer on her palm and rubs it on the pew top as she heads to her seat. goes in one end and sits at the other.
God bless,
Mary-NY
|
Back to Top |
|
|
SusanMc Forum Pro
Joined: Jan 21 2008
Online Status: Offline Posts: 192
|
Posted: Nov 02 2009 at 7:38pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
If you are worried about appearing rude, perhaps you could wipe again before your family leaves the pew. That way you are just trying keep EVERYONE healthy by keeping thier germs from you and your germs from them.
|
Back to Top |
|
|
pixilated_momma Forum Pro
Joined: Sept 04 2007
Online Status: Offline Posts: 192
|
Posted: Nov 02 2009 at 11:44pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Actually, I read this and thought, "What a great idea!" LOL
__________________ Veronica Maria
Paper Dali, my art blog
Sometimes Bailey, my creativity blog
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Stephanie_Q Forum Pro
Joined: Aug 25 2007 Location: Nebraska
Online Status: Offline Posts: 479
|
Posted: Nov 03 2009 at 11:42am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Not to freak anyone our, but: do you handle trips to the library and library books in the same way? I've been wondering about this since all the H1N1 hype started up. I really haven't been doing anything differently than any other year, but we do have a tendency to use the library less frequently during cold & flu season. Since we're home most of the time, I wonder if the germs and viruses the kids pick up are from church or the library...?
__________________ Stephaniedh 6.01
dd 6.02, dd 8.03, ds 3.05, ds 12.06 at Catholic school.
dd 12.09 at home.
Baby boy due 10.13
|
Back to Top |
|
|
MaryM Board Moderator
Joined: Feb 11 2005 Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline Posts: 13104
|
Posted: Nov 03 2009 at 12:18pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Also, if you are still self conscious about it, you could plan to arrive a little early - early enough to do all the housekeeping before the majority of folks arrive. You could do it without much attention then.
__________________ Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
|
Back to Top |
|
|
DominaCaeli Forum All-Star
Joined: April 24 2007
Online Status: Offline Posts: 3711
|
Posted: Nov 03 2009 at 12:24pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Stephanie_Q wrote:
Not to freak anyone our, but: do you handle trips to the library and library books in the same way? I've been wondering about this since all the H1N1 hype started up. I really haven't been doing anything differently than any other year, but we do have a tendency to use the library less frequently during cold & flu season. Since we're home most of the time, I wonder if the germs and viruses the kids pick up are from church or the library...? |
|
|
I usually make library trips on my own (place my requests online, then go to pick up during my weekly errands). You are right that there are tons of germs there--especially in the children's area. My kids have definitely picked up colds there.
And you're all going to think we're nuts here--but I wash all library books with water and white vinegar after bringing them home, before they're handled by the kids. My husband insisted on it, and I thought he was crazy, but I was shocked at how absolutely filthy they usually are--or at least they are in my library system!
__________________ Blessings,
Celeste
Joyous Lessons
Mommy to six: three boys (8, 4, newborn) and four girls (7, 5, 2, and 1)
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Jody Forum All-Star
Joined: March 16 2009 Location: Ohio
Online Status: Offline Posts: 709
|
Posted: Nov 04 2009 at 6:56pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Great idea Melinda! I saw a woman at church do the very same thing a few years ago. She had a bunch of kids and they were constantly picking up germs and getting sick. The other people who saw her thought it was a wise move.
Jody
__________________ Jody,
Mom to 10 blessings
|
Back to Top |
|
|
SeaStar Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 16 2006
Online Status: Offline Posts: 9068
|
Posted: Nov 04 2009 at 9:18pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
DominaCaeli wrote:
Stephanie_Q wrote:
Not to freak anyone our, but: do you handle trips to the library and library books in the same way? I've been wondering about this since all the H1N1 hype started up. I really haven't been doing anything differently than any other year, but we do have a tendency to use the library less frequently during cold & flu season. Since we're home most of the time, I wonder if the germs and viruses the kids pick up are from church or the library...? |
|
|
I usually make library trips on my own (place my requests online, then go to pick up during my weekly errands). You are right that there are tons of germs there--especially in the children's area. My kids have definitely picked up colds there.
And you're all going to think we're nuts here--but I wash all library books with water and white vinegar after bringing them home, before they're handled by the kids. My husband insisted on it, and I thought he was crazy, but I was shocked at how absolutely filthy they usually are--or at least they are in my library system! |
|
|
I do the same thing- place on line requests, then pick them up without the kids along. I wash the book covers with water and vinegar normally, but I just switched to using Lysol wipes last week. It is truly, absolutely disgusting how much dirt and yuck comes off the books.
And along another line, the story time at my library is in the mornings, and the first time we went I noticed a lot of older kids in the room. I knew they couldn't all be homeschooled, so I asked the librarians about it. They looked at each other and then one said that lots of parents bring their kids to story time if they are home sick from school. ICK. We didn't go back.
__________________ Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
|
Back to Top |
|
|