We all know that toddlers are adorable little germ factories. They have an uncanny ability to attract colds and pass them on to unsuspecting adults. In my case, our toddler cold became a legendary saga that lasted for four excruciating weeks, involving my 15-month-old, a Saturday German class, and a domino effect of snotty tissues. Join me as I share the hilariously miserable tale of how our family fell victim to the tiniest of invaders.
The German Class Germ Exchange
It all began innocently enough with Josephine’s Saturday German class. Little did we know that beneath the cheery tunes and interactive games, a sneaky cold virus lurked. Like a secret agent, it infiltrated the class, bouncing from one tiny host to another until it found its way to my daughter. She became Patient Zero in our family’s cold catastrophe.
The Toddler-to-Mommy Transfer
As all moms know, a mother’s love knows no bounds, not even when it comes to sharing cold viruses. So, naturally, my daughter, in her adorable innocence, passed the baton of misery to me. It was clear that I would get it after spending many many hours with Josephine in my lap on the sofa. I went from cuddling her cute little sneezes to experiencing my own personal symphony of sniffles and sore throats. Thank you so much!
The Domino Effect
But the story doesn’t end there. Oh no! Like a twisted game of cold dominoes, I unwittingly transmitted the virus to Rich. We thought he might be the odd one out. But no, it took him two full weeks to get infected. The sneezes, coughs, and general misery spread from one family member to another, leaving no stone unturned. It seemed our house had turned into a sick ward, complete with an orchestra of sniffles and a never-ending tissue paper trail. That is, except for the cats. They remained as happy and healthy as ever.
Oh, and then Josephine’s nose started running again. Or as our pediatrician put it: Very often, toddlers have a big cold and, shortly after, another, smaller one. What a joy!
The Cold’s Sense of Humor
What truly amazed me during this epic battle with the toddler cold was the timing. The virus seemed to possess a particularly high stamina. It just didn’t want to leave us at all. Lovely weather outside? No, thank you, we prefer the nice warmth of a fleece blanket on our sofa. Plus we sneezed too much. A lovely dinner prepared in our microwave because nobody had any energy? Obviously, that needed to be accompanied by coughing fits and giant snot bubbles. It was as if the cold wanted to make sure we experienced its full potential.
While those four weeks of battling the toddler cold might have felt like an eternity, looking back, they now serve as a source of shared memories. We may have suffered through endless boxes of tissues, cold medicine, and endless nights of sniffles, but it also was a family bonding experience. So, the next time our tiny human brings home a germ-infested surprise, we will remember: cuddles are still the best medicine, even if they come with a side of toddler colds.
