Oh The Germs: Being Stretched As A Parent

Back in the States Kai did not play with kids that often. He would go the nursery during church and Mom’s Group. He would play with the boy I watched for around 3 months. He would hang out with his girl friends; Evie, Chambry, and Emma. Those were all in controlled environments where I or someone else could determine what was allowed in his mouth or not, if the toys had been recently sanitized or the carpet had been recently vacuumed. Kai has been a really healthy baby. He hasn’t had any fevers other than when he got his shots. Back in the States I would say I was not germ-ophobic. I have heard stories of other moms and their measures to keep germs away from their children and I would laugh at their silliness. And then........................we arrived in Kenya @ Tobiah  Home.

Seriously, we did not let Kai sit on the floor around the children for the first couple of days. We were worried about a couple of things 1) him being malled and not being able to crawl away. 2) All of the children’s hands, feet, arms, legs, that just wiped their own runny nose ending up in Kai’s mouth. Every time we came back to our room to go to sleep I wanted to wash mine and Kai’s hands. Kai did end up getting a cold. Could have been from the plane ride or from the kids. At least he hasn’t gotten the cough that the other children have. He also has broken out in a rash and we are trying to figure out from all the variables exactly what is causing it. 

Now that we have been here a couple of weeks, I’m glad to say we have loosened up a little bit. We realize that there are some things we do not have control over. We have to let him build up his immunities. He has been having so much fun with the other kids that he has learned to crawl. 

Even though we are being stretched as parents to let God be in control even of the germs with which Kai comes in contact, we will be teaching our students a few basic hygiene methods to help the spread of germs decrease amongst the home and classroom. 

:)