balance keeping safe vs involved

[creation301]

Hi there this has been such a great place to get ideas for me so hopefully some of you can help. Lately I have been feeling so frustrated that our 21 month old needs to stay out of so many activities. Constantly trying to control the environment making sure there are no kids sick or running noses. I feel like I am constantly on guard every time we step out of our door. Example the neighbor kids that come to play with our older kids, I feel like I am watching like a hawk to see if anyone is sick before I can relax and just let her play. Or Sunday school, there are tons of toys there and kids that could be sick. She has yet to hardly leave our side other than family. I don't want to make a non-social child and yet I want to give her the longest healthiest life I can. I know first and foremost that this is not really my job, but rather THE ONE who made her. However, I still struggle so much in trusting God to take care of her AND to help me know the right thing to do. If any of you can relate or give some advice I would greatly appreciate it.

Tiffany

 

[creation301]

Hi there this has been such a great place to get ideas for me so hopefully some of you can help. Lately I have been feeling so frustrated that our 21 month old needs to stay out of so many activities. Constantly trying to control the environment making sure there are no kids sick or running noses. I feel like I am constantly on guard every time we step out of our door. Example the neighbor kids that come to play with our older kids, I feel like I am watching like a hawk to see if anyone is sick before I can relax and just let her play. Or Sunday school, there are tons of toys there and kids that could be sick. She has yet to hardly leave our side other than family. I don't want to make a non-social child and yet I want to give her the longest healthiest life I can. I know first and foremost that this is not really my job, but rather THE ONE who made her. However, I still struggle so much in trusting God to take care of her AND to help me know the right thing to do. If any of you can relate or give some advice I would greatly appreciate it.

Tiffany

 

[creation301]

Hi there this has been such a great place to get ideas for me so hopefully some of you can help. Lately I have been feeling so frustrated that our 21 month old needs to stay out of so many activities. Constantly trying to control the environment making sure there are no kids sick or running noses. I feel like I am constantly on guard every time we step out of our door. Example the neighbor kids that come to play with our older kids, I feel like I am watching like a hawk to see if anyone is sick before I can relax and just let her play. Or Sunday school, there are tons of toys there and kids that could be sick. She has yet to hardly leave our side other than family. I don't want to make a non-social child and yet I want to give her the longest healthiest life I can. I know first and foremost that this is not really my job, but rather THE ONE who made her. However, I still struggle so much in trusting God to take care of her AND to help me know the right thing to do. If any of you can relate or give some advice I would greatly appreciate it.

Tiffany

 

[JazzysMom]

Quite frankly if you are having such a difficult time now.....you will be burned out by the time your child is old enough for school. I am not saying throw a CFer to the sharks & be totally negligent, but you need to "pick your battles." Since there are soooooo many things that could affect a CFer you have to decide which are the most important to avoid & then work with the rest. Being a kid IMHO is #1 priority and if that means playing in the dirt and doing things that make YOU uncomfortable then maybe you need to be uncomfortable. Not to mention that being a germaphobic is not a way to guarantee your child wont culture certain bacterias especially PA. They are only kids once.....just try to remember that and use common sense without being overbearing. I think you can do it!

 

[JazzysMom]

Quite frankly if you are having such a difficult time now.....you will be burned out by the time your child is old enough for school. I am not saying throw a CFer to the sharks & be totally negligent, but you need to "pick your battles." Since there are soooooo many things that could affect a CFer you have to decide which are the most important to avoid & then work with the rest. Being a kid IMHO is #1 priority and if that means playing in the dirt and doing things that make YOU uncomfortable then maybe you need to be uncomfortable. Not to mention that being a germaphobic is not a way to guarantee your child wont culture certain bacterias especially PA. They are only kids once.....just try to remember that and use common sense without being overbearing. I think you can do it!

 

[JazzysMom]

Quite frankly if you are having such a difficult time now.....you will be burned out by the time your child is old enough for school. I am not saying throw a CFer to the sharks & be totally negligent, but you need to "pick your battles." Since there are soooooo many things that could affect a CFer you have to decide which are the most important to avoid & then work with the rest. Being a kid IMHO is #1 priority and if that means playing in the dirt and doing things that make YOU uncomfortable then maybe you need to be uncomfortable. Not to mention that being a germaphobic is not a way to guarantee your child wont culture certain bacterias especially PA. They are only kids once.....just try to remember that and use common sense without being overbearing. I think you can do it!

 

[Jane]

This has been one of the hardest things for us to think about as CF parents. My answer is do what you can to keep them safe, but don't stress about things you can't control. As many adult CFers have said, they did everything when they were young!

We have been viligant with our boys, but not to the point of being overly cautious. (if that makes any sense?) We let them be kids as much as possible.

Our boys contracted a mycobacteria several years ago that caused their health to decline. We don't know where it came from (it is environmental). We've had many conversations and a lot of guilt that we allowed them to be exposed (pools, fishing, dirt etc), but it could have come from drinking water for all we know.

The bottom line is, you can't keep them in a bubble.

Did my kids enjoy fishing, playing in the dirt, swimming in pools etc? YES

Would we let them do it again? YES

You are being a good parent by asking questions like this, but please keep things in perspective for your own sanity.<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Jane]

This has been one of the hardest things for us to think about as CF parents. My answer is do what you can to keep them safe, but don't stress about things you can't control. As many adult CFers have said, they did everything when they were young!

We have been viligant with our boys, but not to the point of being overly cautious. (if that makes any sense?) We let them be kids as much as possible.

Our boys contracted a mycobacteria several years ago that caused their health to decline. We don't know where it came from (it is environmental). We've had many conversations and a lot of guilt that we allowed them to be exposed (pools, fishing, dirt etc), but it could have come from drinking water for all we know.

The bottom line is, you can't keep them in a bubble.

Did my kids enjoy fishing, playing in the dirt, swimming in pools etc? YES

Would we let them do it again? YES

You are being a good parent by asking questions like this, but please keep things in perspective for your own sanity.<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Jane]

This has been one of the hardest things for us to think about as CF parents. My answer is do what you can to keep them safe, but don't stress about things you can't control. As many adult CFers have said, they did everything when they were young!

We have been viligant with our boys, but not to the point of being overly cautious. (if that makes any sense?) We let them be kids as much as possible.

Our boys contracted a mycobacteria several years ago that caused their health to decline. We don't know where it came from (it is environmental). We've had many conversations and a lot of guilt that we allowed them to be exposed (pools, fishing, dirt etc), but it could have come from drinking water for all we know.

The bottom line is, you can't keep them in a bubble.

Did my kids enjoy fishing, playing in the dirt, swimming in pools etc? YES

Would we let them do it again? YES

You are being a good parent by asking questions like this, but please keep things in perspective for your own sanity.<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Ratatosk]

I try not to freak out -- use purell & hand wipes when we go to the playground, indoor play areas at the mall, grocery shopping, after gymnastics...

DS does go to daycare/preschool. If there are bugs going around, the daycare director informs all of the parents, so if DS is "off" I can usually figure out what it might be. Last month everyone in his class got rotavirus, except him. Was waiting for it to happen, since he's FOREVER digging in his undewear and always digging up his NOSE -- bleah. but he was fine.

 

[Ratatosk]

I try not to freak out -- use purell & hand wipes when we go to the playground, indoor play areas at the mall, grocery shopping, after gymnastics...

DS does go to daycare/preschool. If there are bugs going around, the daycare director informs all of the parents, so if DS is "off" I can usually figure out what it might be. Last month everyone in his class got rotavirus, except him. Was waiting for it to happen, since he's FOREVER digging in his undewear and always digging up his NOSE -- bleah. but he was fine.

 

[Ratatosk]

I try not to freak out -- use purell & hand wipes when we go to the playground, indoor play areas at the mall, grocery shopping, after gymnastics...

DS does go to daycare/preschool. If there are bugs going around, the daycare director informs all of the parents, so if DS is "off" I can usually figure out what it might be. Last month everyone in his class got rotavirus, except him. Was waiting for it to happen, since he's FOREVER digging in his undewear and always digging up his NOSE -- bleah. but he was fine.