The Parenthood Thread

[Not Right in the Head]

What does that mean? I never heard that before.

I had the same question. Just smile and nod as if you understand.

On a local talk show, I once heard the co-host mention that one of his young children was sick with a cold and had a case of the snots, and he said he saw the nanny/caretaker put her mouth over the child's nose and suck out the snots. He said it nearly made him sick to see her suck the gunk out of his child's nose, but on the other hand was elated that this woman cared so much for his child that she would do that.

I've heard that, too. Someone said that it's a common practice in countries that don't require antibacterial hand sanitizer as part of kids' school supplies--which would be everywhere but here.

[vicarinatutugal]

seeker and NRitH I now feel very sick.

[The Seeker of Good Songs]

I've heard that, too. Someone said that it's a common practice in countries that don't require antibacterial hand sanitizer as part of kids' school supplies--which would be everywhere but here.

As gross as it sounds, it makes perfect sense to do. The child can't clear out their nose so the easiest way to do it is to suck it out. We do it with mini suck bulb things when they are tiny infants, but when the get to one or more, we just let it drip and flow and rub their little face raw with tissues.


We're going to be the equivalent of the ancient Romans who died of lead poisoning. The peasants lived because thy couldn't afford the "rich" lead dinnerware. We will die off from some resilient germ that survived all our anti-bacterial mess, and the third world will survive because they couldn't afford our nonsense and their immune system built up resistance to the the things we tried to keep away.

[Not Right in the Head]

We're going to be the equivalent of the ancient Romans who died of lead poisoning. The peasants lived because thy couldn't afford the "rich" lead dinnerware. We will die off from some resilient germ that survived all our anti-bacterial mess, and the third world will survive because they couldn't afford our nonsense and their immune system built up resistance to the the things we tried to keep away.

As bizarre as it sounds to leap from green snot to lead poisoning, everything you said is absolutely true. I'm gonna take the kids out back to eat a few handfuls of mud right now.

[The Seeker of Good Songs]

As bizarre as it sounds to leap from green snot to lead poisoning, everything you said is absolutely true. I'm gonna take the kids out back to eat a few handfuls of mud right now.

Rub some dog feces on your childs scabby toe, too!

[PregnantForTheLastTime]

Green 11- look at child's upper lip. See the 11? And it's green.

I don't buy antibacterial soaps and don't stress about germs. I make them wash their hands often with regular soap. They get one or two minor colds per year, and between the two of them, there has been only one ear infection. My cleanfreak friends' kids seem to catch every bug that goes through.

I'm not taking full responsibility, though, we might just be lucky.

I also don't really medicate them when they are sick. It's almost impossible to get them to take so much as kids' Tylenol. I just give them lots of cozy baths and use saline to keep their noses drained.

icky parent talk.

[Corrissey]

Green 11- look at child's upper lip. See the 11? And it's green.

I don't buy antibacterial soaps and don't stress about germs. I make them wash their hands often with regular soap.

I'm not taking full responsibility, though, we might just be lucky.

I also don't really medicate them when they are sick.

Green 11. Hmm, I'll have to test that one out.
Good for you not getting all that anti-bacterial crap... good ol soap and water is best -and 'friction' is the key (but you know this) That anti-bacterial stuff is the beginning of the end (anti-biotic resistant infections) People tend to overmedicate their kids too. I don't. Just myself.

[Not Right in the Head]

Green 11- look at child's upper lip. See the 11? And it's green.

Oh, fuck, that's gross. I'll never look at it the number 11 the same way again!

I don't buy antibacterial soaps and don't stress about germs. I make them wash their hands often with regular soap. They get one or two minor colds per year, and between the two of them, there has been only one ear infection. My cleanfreak friends' kids seem to catch every bug that goes through.

I'm not taking full responsibility, though, we might just be lucky.

I also don't really medicate them when they are sick. It's almost impossible to get them to take so much as kids' Tylenol. I just give them lots of cozy baths and use saline to keep their noses drained.

icky parent talk.

I'd say that luck is a big part of it. We didn't medicate our oldest very often; she'd get ear infections, and many times we'd let the infection take its course. With the twins, though, the idea of leaving the infections alone was torturous--they'd keep each other awake, they'd pass the infections back and forth so that there were cycles where one or the other (or both) would be sick continuously for two or three months. Nightmarish.

The twins' preschool is militantly germophobic--they have the kids wash their hands seemingly every couple of minutes. The other day, the insisted that the kids re-wash their hands (re-wash because everyone's required to wash their hands before they leave the house to go to school) before they would be allowed to cut shapes in biscuits. I tried to point out that baking the dough at 350 would kill just about anything that the kids may have dragged in, but the looks of horror that I got quickly silenced me. Ridiculous.

[suparni]

Hello out there all you parents! I am not a parent (which is a good thing in many ways - both for me and the world) - but I am an aunt... and I absolutely love being an aunt and spending time with the kids...

Here is a song that I discovered the children love to listen to:

The Teddy Bear's Picnic by Jerry Garcia and David Grisman:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=0ZZJFC11

The kids know every word and sing it often - I have seen this happen with several kids I have introduced it to... perhaps you and your kids will enjoy it as much as we did.

[M-in-Oz]

Any hints for keeping children happy while flying? We are going on a flight in a couple of days & I'm worried that the novelty will wear off in about 10 minutes...then it will be "are we there yet?"

[mozmal]

My 14 year old daughter was talking about the band Paramore, the other day. For those that don't know, Paramore are an American rock band with a very pretty female lead singer. Anyway, I commented on the girl's natural beauty and my daughter came out with "Oh all the boys are in love with her and the girls would turn lesbian for her, including me". I had to laugh.

[Not Right in the Head]

Any hints for keeping children happy while flying? We are going on a flight in a couple of days & I'm worried that the novelty will wear off in about 10 minutes...then it will be "are we there yet?"

How old are they, and how long is the flight?

[M-in-Oz]

One 19mths and one 5....the flight is only a 3 hours - so its really about keeping them entertained & quiet I guess. My 19mth old doesn't like to sit still!

[Not Right in the Head]

One 19mths and one 5....the flight is only a 3 hours - so its really about keeping them entertained & quiet I guess. My 19mth old doesn't like to sit still!

If that's the case, then don't underestimate the power of barf-bag puppets. Seriously. Kept my kids (at the time, 4, 1, and 1) quite entertained. But don't break out the puppets until absolutely necessary--like during the last hour of the flight.

[M-in-Oz]

If that's the case, then don't underestimate the power of barf-bag puppets. Seriously. Kept my kids (at the time, 4, 1, and 1) quite entertained. But don't break out the puppets until absolutely necessary--like during the last hour of the flight.

Thanks for the tip! I would never have thought of that myself...now I have a little trick up my sleeve if things get really dire.

[Not Right in the Head]

Thanks for the tip! I would never have thought of that myself...now I have a little trick up my sleeve if things get really dire.

It has the added advantage of horrifying your fellow passengers when you take the bag out of the seat-back pocket. But that's just entertainment for you, not the kids.

[M-in-Oz]

It has the added advantage of horrifying your fellow passengers when you take the bag out of the seat-back pocket. But that's just entertainment for you, not the kids.

He, he, he! Nothing like scaring people with vomit - or the potential of vomit....thanks for the advice, I'm off to pack now as I have been putting it off for way too long.

[morrisseychic]

my 6yrs old niece, this is what she does if any boys give her trouble

[Corrissey]

Thank God for this thread.
No lie...
I'm home w/my almost 4 yr old (DH and 8yr old went to store)
and she sayz -as I am surfing Frink-
Her: "Is that Morsey? I like Morsey"
Me: you do!!??
Yes: *in song* Let me kiss you....

*Mom is dying laughing and plants a big smooch on her cheek"

-then-

U2 'With or without you' is playing downstairs and she yells out from the top of the stairs

"Daddy, is that you?"
.....pause.....
"Is it Morsey?!"
ROTFLMAO!!! (no honey, it's Bono....damn....If only Morsey were at my dorsey, kid)

I know I've been drinking... but that's enterainment

[Hellie]

Green 11- look at child's upper lip. See the 11? And it's green.

I don't buy antibacterial soaps and don't stress about germs. I make them wash their hands often with regular soap. They get one or two minor colds per year, and between the two of them, there has been only one ear infection. My cleanfreak friends' kids seem to catch every bug that goes through.

I'm not taking full responsibility, though, we might just be lucky.

I also don't really medicate them when they are sick. It's almost impossible to get them to take so much as kids' Tylenol. I just give them lots of cozy baths and use saline to keep their noses drained.

icky parent talk.

This is all pretty sound.I`ve a friend who`s a clean freak and her kids are always ill.It makes sense-the more germs they come into contact with (I`m not talking about salmonella etc...)the better.You can`t build an immunity to anything if its all dust free and sterilised.I think with food you`ve got to be really careful - but as toddlers mine regularly chewed on a worm or two.

I`ve got a really annoying relative whoi haven`t seen in ages and she won`t bring my kids cousins around because we have dogs and they are asthmatic. What rubbish! A friends daughter is severley asthmatic and her doctor father bought her a dog!!You cannot sheild your children from everything.