Germy Germs

Kids and Germs. They go hand in hand. Of course. Drama Queen is very aware of germs. This week Mischief began running a fever, and then began vomiting. Drama Queen was all about "don't get near me, don't touch my drink - I don't want your germs". I'm really glad that she knows about germs and spreading them. Really. But this past weekend, I got a small glimpse of some of the impact this knowledge could have on the brain of a 6 (ALMOST 7) year old.

My grandmother has been diagnosed with cancer - uterine and ovarian. On top of that, her house caught on fire recently and I went to visit her to help her get scheduled in an apartment where she will live for the next 5 months. Where she will recuperate from her surgery, and live while her home is rebuilt. I left the girls with F while I traveled to Mimi's house. I worried about my Mimi's health, I worried about her sanity with all of the upheaval, I worried about F dealing with 2 girls for 4 days. I didn't worry about my girls at all.

I was sitting on the floor with Mimi - surrounded by mail and medical papers and clothes in trash bags - when my phone rang. It was Drama Queen. "What are you doing mommy?" "Sitting here next to Mimi - helping her unpack" "Mommy, can cancer spread?" "Yes darling, sometimes it can grow a bit until the doctors can get it out" "Oh." Silence. Silence. Silence. "Drama Queen?" "Yeah mommy" Silence. Silence. Silence. All of a sudden, I get it. "Drama Queen, darling. Cancer might grow in the person who already has it - but it can't spread from one person to another." "So its not like a cold mommy?" "No, darling - mommy can't get it from being here with mimi"

Things I should have talked to her about BEFORE heading off to Mimi's house for 4 days. . .DOH!