When my wife was with child, we vowed never to be the parents who would quarantine our little one from the world.  We were going to be OK with people holding her, touching her, being around her.  I mean, we would push the hand sanitizer, but we didn’t think that was an egregious request.    

Now that the child is with us, I might be rethinking that free spirited approach.

For the first two weeks of her life, our daughter was an “inside pet.”  She had plenty of visitors, but was generally confined to the walls of the house, unless absolutely necessary to take her out.  Gradually, we have introduced her to the outside world of grocery stores, pharmacies, and the occasional restaurant stop.  I know I’m not breaking new ground here.  You veteran parents reading this are likely thinking, “Yeah, Nick, that’s what you do.”  Got it.  But am I the only one who is appalled by the behavior of those who approach a child in public?  And they do approach her.  I guess if she weren’t so darn cute, you know, this wouldn’t be such a yoke to bear, but what’s a guy to do?  She’s got good genes.  Smilie :) 

Anyway, I think I’ve managed to keep a pretty calm demeanor while the populace has sneezed on her, coughed on her, and pawed at her after sneezing and coughing in the hands that are now wandering all over my 11-week old’s hands and face.  I don’t say anything.  I don’t get all, “Hey, c’mon now!”  After all, the kid’s gotta get that immune system jump started eventually, and if I put her in a bubble now, she’ll never be able to fight off anything down the road.  But this one absolutely floored me yesterday: while grabbing my daughter’s hands and touching her face, this individual actually remarks, “I won’t touch her too much – my kids are all home puking their guts out.”

Won’t touch her TOO MUCH?  How about not at all?  No?  The whole fam is rainbow yawning all over your complex and the thought of merely observing my daughter was too insurmountable a proposal?  You just had to get your stomach flu toting phalanges on those chubby little baby cheeks?

Am I overreacting?