A Lesson about Germs

Any questions you have about germs just might be answered during this conversation that took place between me and Jacob. You may want to take notes.


Me: "I don't feel good."

Jacob: "I got a cold. I been sneezin' and coughin' and hiccupin'."

Me: "I know. Mommy has a cold too."

Jacob: "I have germs."

Me: "You do?"

Jacob: "Yea. Germs are ucky."

Me: "I know. They are yucky."

Jacob: "Yea."

Me: "What happens when you have germs?"

Jacob: "You put soap on 'em, go like dis (rubs hands together), and make 'em go away!"

Me: "That's right!"

Jacob: "I wash my hands for a long, long time."

Me: "Yes, you do. But I think sometimes you're just playing in the water, right?"

Jacob: "Yes. I love it."

Me: "I know you do. Can germs make you feel sick?"

Jacob: "Yea. Dem can hurt you. But sometimes dem don't hurt you."

Me: "That's true. What do germs look like?"

Jacob: "Germs are red, or yellow, or blue, or green, or orange, or...purple."

Me: "Wow, really? Purple germs?"

Jacob: (nodding with a very serious expression) "Yes."



Jacob: (sighing) "Can I watch Spider-man now?"

Me: "OK. Can I have a hug first?"

Jacob: hugs me quickly, then pulls back, saying, "I have lots of germs."

Me: "Mommy has germs too."

Jacob: Confused how they could have been transmitted during such a hurried hug, he asks, "Already?"