Germaphobe - sure I'll take that label!

Let's enter my special realm of crazy - shall we?! I am what our society calls a "germaphobe", well at least the nice part of our society. I have been called strange, odd, crazy, silly, compulsive...whatever, I'm healthier than you are.
I would say I have a slight issue with germs. Not to be confused as having a problem with dirt, I don't mind dirt, I actually quite prefer mud puddles and hiking trails to the public library or a jump house - talk about a nightmare!


I come from a clean family. My German grandmother cleans outlets and light switches with a q-tip - and she enjoys it! I have always been a clean and tidy person but I think the real issue with germs came along sometime in late adolescence. I cried tears of joy when little bottles of hand sanitizer and shopping cart wipes became a part of main stream society - even though I've carried wet wipes around with me for more than a decade. They have proven their usefulness if many situations - bathroom doors, any and every door handle that exists, gas pumps, communal pens and clip boards, electronic signing devices, restaurant tables and chairs, library books (the library in general), cell phones, keys, high chairs (those covers sure are nice!), and the play area at the mall - which I have taken the time to completely wipe down before I let my kids play - you are very welcome, Cheyenne.


I always find it so funny (funny odd, not funny HAHA) that people balk at this little issue I have with germs. I'm sorry I don't want fecal, flu, or salmonella germs - you can have mine if you'd like! And even funnier that people insist on children "needing" the exposure to said germs...yes because the faucet of snot, booger picking, pooing yourself, and sticking everything God created in your mouth isn't enough "exposure" - I think so.


I have to say I have actually lightened up since having 2 children - colds happen - but if you see me at the library or the mall (which I don't frequent) or any other general area that children congregate, don't be offended if I'm wiping something off or dousing my party in sanitizer. It's not you, it's me ;)