Vacationing with germy family

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be that person who has a family meeting when everyone gets there. Everyone, including kids, attends. And set everyone up for success by putting hand sanitizer and wipes in the bathroom and kitchen counter.

Put it on your parents: “So we’re all going to be together. Because we want everyone to stay healthy, especially Granny & Grandpa, it’s important that we wash our hands and keep the space clean. I’ve put a bottle of hand sanitizer in each of the bathrooms and next to the fridge. Let’s all agree to either wash hands or use the hand sanitizer.”

Saying nothing will crank up your anxiety and make you miserable. Saying something increases the probability that they will work to stay cleaner. You have to decide that coming off as a slightly biotchy/intense is worth it. Sounds like it might be.

+1

And I don't mind saying, "did you wash your hands?" To my niece or nephew.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just kick people out of the kitchen when you're prepping/cooking food. Then plate all the food so nobody is touching anything but their own. Shame the hell out of your brother about not washing hands after using the bathroom.

Ooh this thread will then turn into " I did all the cooking all week and my brother and his family just hung around outside the kitchen waiting to be served"
It will still be a good thread. Please keep renting together folks; I love the entertainment!

[Anonymous]

Get the giant boxes of mini assorted chip bags. At least with that battle it’ll be easier.

[Anonymous]

You are the Aunt; totally in bounds to remind your nephew to wash his hands and cover his mouth when he coughs. It takes a village.

[Anonymous]

You made your bed. Now you must lie in it.

What did you think would happen when you agreed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You made your bed. Now you must lie in it.

What did you think would happen when you agreed?

That I would make my elderly mom happy.

[Anonymous]

Shame them. Billy, wash your hands after eating. Johnny, we don’t eat out of the cups bag. Annie, he’s a dish for your hummus. You knew this going in, and you agreed to the trip. I’d probably hid food in my room. I would not share food with them, and I’d wipe down faucets and toilet handles and doorknobs/light switches daily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get the giant boxes of mini assorted chip bags. At least with that battle it’ll be easier.

Very good idea. So worth the few extra $.

[Anonymous]

Just don't do shared snacks. Buy individual bags of chios and snacks,canned sodas etc. Also show good hygeine to them. Before you start cooking wash your hands, say let's wash our hands so we can get started. Bring Clorox wipes for the remotes and shared touch surfaces. Micro an claims to kill germs for 24 hours after you spray it and let it dry. Get some of that

[Anonymous]

Microban

[Anonymous]

And know that everyone will survive regardless....

[Anonymous]

How do you know they don’t wash their hands? Do you loiter outside the bathroom while they’re in it? Weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Be that person who has a family meeting when everyone gets there. Everyone, including kids, attends. And set everyone up for success by putting hand sanitizer and wipes in the bathroom and kitchen counter.

Put it on your parents: “So we’re all going to be together. Because we want everyone to stay healthy, especially Granny & Grandpa, it’s important that we wash our hands and keep the space clean. I’ve put a bottle of hand sanitizer in each of the bathrooms and next to the fridge. Let’s all agree to either wash hands or use the hand sanitizer.”

Saying nothing will crank up your anxiety and make you miserable. Saying something increases the probability that they will work to stay cleaner. You have to decide that coming off as a slightly biotchy/intense is worth it. Sounds like it might be.

+1

And I don't mind saying, "did you wash your hands?" To my niece or nephew.

+2. Also very easy to say with a smile. You can even add in an, "or do you need me to help you with some hand sanitizer? I have some right here."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you know they don’t wash their hands? Do you loiter outside the bathroom while they’re in it? Weird.

+1

Was wondering the same...it does seem very odd OP.

Beyond that, I agree with many of the responses...use the pandemic etc as an excuse, but single serve snacks vs big bags of things, and I would also be fine to remind kids to wash hands (no big deal)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Use the pandemic to demand hand washing. Bring several containers of sanitizer to put in the kitchen, bathrooms, etc. and when you do not hear water running you make them at least use sanitizer. If it’s bad enough, offer to cook the meals and suggest, again use covid, to suggest you sit with space between you when eating.

This. And make sure you and your kids wash your hands before eating anything. For example: pour chips onto their plates, instead of a shared bowl, and then wash your hands before you eat.

And teach your kids (and yourself) never to put your hands in their faces.

I would actually be more worried about your elderly parents than about your kids.