let’s (not) shake on it

There’s not a day that goes by lately where you don’t hear about the h1n1 virus…and you don’t even have to turn on the tv or read a newspaper. Between emails, facebook updates, and worried parents at the playground, the question on everyone’s mind is, ‘to vaccinate or not to vaccinate?’ Well considering my little one’s 1yr check-up is next week, I’m thinking we need to decide quickly. But what I’m more worried about is protection against the virus in day to day life.

With a 4 year old in preschool, daily visits to classes and the playground, and routine daily contact, I guess in this day and age you can’t be too safe. But what about strangers who think they are entitled to touch your children?

I was never so worried when someone wanted to pat my pregnant belly, and was ok when someone wanted to ruffle my big one’s curls and slap him high five. Thanks to an MD brother-in-law, I was of the belief that kids needed to be exposed to certain germs. But just today alone 2 strangers reached out to touch…not just my child…but his hand…with their hand!! I was speechless.

We’re in the process of visiting schools for my big one to go to kindergarten next year, and actually visited a school yesterday that said, ‘We’re not shaking hands this year in light of the flu season.’ It made me like the school even better.

But I’m stumped with how to handle the random person passing by who thinks my 1 year old’s outstretched hand, waving, is an invitation to grab it or stick their finger in the palm for him to grab (note to people: that’s a good trick for an infant, but 1 year olds don’t need to be grasping fingers.)

After much thought, I think I’m going to go with, ‘Oh…he has the sniffles…you may not want to touch his hand…’ and quickly veer the stroller away.

spill the beans wants to know what you would do.