I do believe this is what is referred to as a First World Problem.
Meaning, there are people in the world with real problems. This is just a minor life-inconvenience caused by my own neurosis.
But seriously, when you are running 90-to-nothing (not that I have any idea what that cliche actually means . . . ), and you find yourself writing a fifth note on the palm of your hand (because that’s the only thing you’re guaranteed not to lose, and to actually see), it’s not terribly helpful to also have an obsession for hand-washing.
That’s all I have to say.
I know. It’s not a real problem.
Nony, I have a germ question. Do you have any tips for dealing with the public swimming pool + three children 5 years and younger situation? I mean, it’s really less the pool and more the changing/restroom areas where I struggle. Do I make them wear pool shoes? How do I clean the pool shoes? Do I rinse off the pool water at the pool showers with the weird pool shower slime or do I bring the whole operation home? Home to the place that I’m trying to keep clean and healthy? Am I over-reacting because it’s all so chlorinated anyway? I hope you understand and can help.
Not a germaphobe but my suggestion would to be to put them all into a tossable plastic bag for the way home ( outside pool area change into normal shoes) and wash them either with the hose.. or in a sink/tub you can wash them in.. just toss some bleach in, let it soak for an hour, rinse well.
On a side note… ( pool skum excuded.. that stuff is nasty), please dont keep your kids environment sanitized! Clean, yes, disinfected… no… just the really nasty stuff like diaper changing areas, pottys, clean the hampers and trash that sorta stuff… Kids need germs in order to build up immune systems. As a mother of a 3 and 5 year old girls and as a CNA I have seen too many young kids with horrible immune systems because of over sanitization! It is sad how such a well thought out task can turn so bad… I had to prove it to an old friend of mine whom used to pride her daughter at nearly 2… had never even had a case of the sniffles… even the doc was telling her to sneeze on her kid!
Then MY kids should NEVER get sick 😉
Thanks, Candice. I have been a germaphob before myself, but have been working away from that over the past years. It does make life easier as well as healthier. I also know at least one mother who is a germaphob. Some of her kids have some serious immune system issues and I can’t help wondering now if some of that was caused by the “extreme clean” program. :-/
Oh my goodness! I caught myself doing the exact same thing the other day. Mid-hand-wash I realized in horror that I just destroyed my much needed notes. Oops! Although since the alternative was not washing my hands I guess it’s for the better. I’m thinking if I can catch myself early enough next time maybe I can memorize the note and re-adorn my hand after it”s clean. Pretty sure that’s wishful thinking though, lol.
I tend to write things on the back of my hand. yes then the whole world can see them. But I am less likely to scrub the the baks so hard it comes off. and it’s a motivation to get the thing done so the whole world isn’t reading my note… or judging me for writing on my hand.
Nony – seriously – I think we are cut from the same cloth. Although I am not a hand-writer, I do write all kinds of notes to myself. I bought neon Post-it notes and stick them on my day planner (or to do list – which ever I happen to be using that day : ) ). I only put one task/reminder per note, and pitch the note when I’m done. I keep a pad of sticky notes in the car and one by my bed. I do not obsess about using a certain color for a certain type of task – too many decisions! This also gets me to look at my planner/list more than once a day – or that’s the idea anyway! Of course I don’t always get to everything……
I often send myself a text with notes like that, then I don’t have any problems keeping track of a piece of paper.
The other thing I use constantly is an app I downloaded to my android phone called Color Notes. It’s like post it notes for your phone! You can have checklists, make them be different colors, cross things off as needed, and have it send reminders for time sensitive things. You can even share it with others. Going grocery shopping with several helpers, you can send the grocery list to everyone, and divide things up. I have one for paying my bills. As soon as the bill comes in I enter the due date and amount due, then toss the bill. This one app has done more for my staying on top of my life and less frustrated hours looking for important things than anything else!