I love my children with all of my heart. All of my being. I would run in front of a bus for them. Jump from an airplane. Kill. Maim. You know, anything for them.
Well, anything except for one teeny, little thing.
Despite having birthed them, changed their diapers, having been covered in their vomit, snot and pee, shoved thermometers up their asses and cleaned their poop out of tubs, rugs and countless other locations, I simply cannot bear to share drinks with my children. Am I alone here?
The way they mouth bottles makes me ill. Is it necessary to put their entire mouth all over it? A small part of a lip would suffice. The little floaties they leave behind? Is that not the grossest thing ever? What are those, anyway? Just general crud floating around their mouths, waiting to turn into backwash? Gag. The lip marks they leave behind? As if I needed a reminder of their invasion. Perhaps, most annoying of all, is that they inevitably will spill my drink somewhere along the way. Not only do I not want to drink it anymore, but now I need to clean it up. The whole thing just makes me crazy. I’ve resorted to keeping my drinks on the top shelf in the fridge whenever I’m not drinking them, far away from the little hands I so adore.
Now, I’m not evil. If one of my children were close to dehydration and in dire need of a sip of my freshly poured water, I would allow them to partake. Of course.
I just wouldn’t drink after them. That’s gross.






{ 98 comments… read them below or add one }
I could NOT agree more. Grosses me out. I don’t have kids yet, but I’m right there with you. Ick!!!!
.-= ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~´s last blog ..The State of the Horse Industry: A Series =-.
HAHA, I totally felt like this when my niece drank from my water bottle. It often became HER water bottle!
That said, I totally let my own baby drink from my glass. Maybe the novelty will wear off once she’s old enough to really drink from a cup by herself…but she’s so small…so it’s cute :-)
.-= Amber´s last blog ..Period…The End =-.
LOL! I’m not a mom yet, but this is so me. When my nieces ask to have a sip of my drink, it automatically becomes theirs.
.-= Cheryl´s last blog ..Set it Sunday – Won’t you join me? =-.
I’m not grossed out by drinking after my kids, but the whole backwash issue is truly disgusting. Then again, I’ve shared gum with my kids.
.-= Tara R.´s last blog ..Mouthwatering Monday ~ Strawberry Pretzel Salad =-.
My husband shares gum, too. Ewwwwww!
And here I thought I was the only mom with this hang-up! That is just something I canNOT do. Ick. Yuck. Gross. Disgusting. I will always just hand it over, tell them it is theirs now, and go find myself something else to drink.
But I’m a little protective of my diet Dr. Pepper. They get it only as a last resort. You know, once their panting and are no longer producing saliva due to the dehydration. ; )
.-= kelli´s last blog ..While I Was Away… =-.
I thought *I* was the only one!! And, mine is Diet Peach Snapple. HANDS OFF, kids!
I hear ya!
And I’m totally embarrassed that I used ‘their’ instead of ‘they’re’ when I know perfectly well the correct usage of those two words.
Please forgive me. I had not yet had my diet Dr. Pepper. ; )
.-= kelli´s last blog ..While I Was Away… =-.
Nope, I won’t do it either. And I have one little punk who just has radar for my fresh glass of ice water. If he sticks his hand in to fish out an ice cube, I dump it, rinse it, and try a better hiding place.
And agreed, if they drink out of something, it’s theirs. I want nothing to do with it. I could be dehydrated and I still wouldn’t drink out of their backwashed cups.
Oh my! I never thought of that…and all this time with my Little’s!
They are usually the ones trying to get me to keep my mouth off of their cups.
I loved the noises they made when drinking from their bottles, with their little nasal breaths. The congested nasal breathing noises while drinking a bottle I could pass on, but those cute little slurping noises?? Come on Scary Mommy how could you not love that??
Oh well, through me, not from me!
.-= Shleegy Rocks´s last blog ..Let’s Call It: What Happened Wednesdays =-.
Oh, the bottle slurping is precious. It’s once they actually eat food that the fun is over!
Little Buddy now knows the trick that if he drinks any of my drink, it’s his. So, if he’s really wanting what I have – guess what he does? YOU GOT IT!
.-= Robyn´s last blog ..Little Buddy’s Top 10 Things to Do with Me =-.
I completely agree. Yuk.
.-= jen´s last blog ..just right write =-.
I grew up in a house FULL of kids. I’m the oldest of 30 grand kids, I KNOW exactly what you’re talking about1 What I hate is when I have a drink sitting there and a little one comes up, drinks out of it and I don’t notice the floaties until I go take a drink…GROSS!!! Now I know why my mom had a drink she’d ‘share’ with us and then a completely other drink just for herself…
.-= CSY´s last blog ..Open Letter To The South… =-.
I’m gagging just thinking about it.
I won’t either. If they want some of my drink, it becomes theirs. Yuck.
.-= LZ @ My Messy Paradise´s last undefined ..Oh no! Comluv had an error with your feed. Click arrow here to see –> =-.
You so are not alone in this!
I love my son’s sloppy kisses more than anything else in the world but if he drinks from my glass or bottle I want nothing to do with it anymore!
.-= Suburban Princess´s last blog ..Robert Burns Day =-.
Yes! I love sloppy, wet kisses too. Not sure why I’m not even grossed out by that.
My thing is little wet pieces of paper. GROSSES ME OUT. Did a whole vlog about it. So, when the craft session gets wet, I have to leave to room.
Ha! I know exactly what you mean. Nasty.
Yup, no sharing drinks for me, either. Too germy. Ick.
.-= Lynn from For Love or Funny´s last blog ..How to find true love…(a guide for teens) =-.
Depends on what my little one is eating or if he’s eating at all. It’s not something I enjoy but it doesn’t really bother me. Now….. if he leaves behind tons of little floating things, I’ll pass. But on a normal basis, I dont’ really care.
.-= Jamie´s last blog ..One of those things =-.
LMAO. I made it a point to teach my kids specifically how to drink from a water bottle at an early age. They do still leave some friends behind, to fight for thier lives and drown, but not nearly as much as other children I watch. They leave whole freaking meals behind in their drinks…………blaaaahhhh. Makes me sick to even imagine it!
.-= Nicole´s last blog ..3 Already? =-.
I’m so with you on this!
.-= Shawntel´s last blog ..New Family Members =-.
I’m the same way. Just yesterday I was watching my daughter drink out of a bottle of water, lips all over it, tongue all up in it. Blech.
.-= Carabee´s last blog ..BlogTrotting =-.
That is hilarious! My best friend also gets grossed out by it. Me? I don’t mind, I’m used to floaties. :)
.-= Keyona´s last blog ..23 Weeks =-.
I used to agree – until my BabyGirl came around. She’s a drink swiper!!! If I never drank after her, *I* would die of dehydration! She’s SO SNEAKY!!! :)
.-= Jenny´s last blog ..Brothers =-.
Hee, hee!! I prefer not share a drink with anyone, hubby included. But, the thought of drinking after my backwashing, slobbery, runny nosed kids makes me gag. I love ‘em, but…. ewwww…
I’ll only share drinks out of straws with my husband. He’s always offering me the last sip of his soda, and I’m all, do you know me??
The thought of drinking someone eles floaties makes me dry heave I don’t care who’s they are. When my kids were smaller I kept my drink on the stove or window ledge where they could not reach it. If I was willing to share then a I poured some into a cup of their own. Now that my youngest is 11 I think it’s not so bad to sometimes share. When I want it completely off limits I tell them I have been feeling sick and they can not have any. How can anyone drink crap floating around in a cup?????
.-= Julie´s last blog ..Being Mom =-.
I don’t like it because they drink everything up and then expect me to go get more. I don’t care about the germs or grossness.
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..It’s all fun and games until your husband sets the yard on fire. =-.
I thought that was just me. I am a huge germ freak. The thought of a back washed drink, even coming from my own children just makes me wanna vomit. So you are not alone.
E.. to the double eeewwww
.-= dipaola momma´s last blog .."Great dress babe, but who’s the stiff in the skirt?" =-.
I’ve trained my child to think that anything brown (soda and chocolate) is dirty. Now when I’m drinking my diet soda or eating m&m’s she points and says, “ewww, gross!”
So to answer your question, yes I find sharing drinks with my child gross.
.-= Danielle @danielle92278´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday =-.
That is kind of genius. There is no brown food that kids need to eat!
Oh my god. I am in total agreement. I mean, especially when they’re dipping their fingers all over their food and then clean them in their drink and THEN offer you a sip. I try to be as tactful as possible…but…ew.
.-= Mariano´s last blog ..Small Business, Big Voices, Episode 8: Dee Rudko, AMRCON =-.
lol… when kids are the age of yours [I am assuming the picture is your child] I can most certainly understand how you feel. But as they get older it is better. Mine know how not to backwash and share a drink.
Now though the thought of getting their poop or vomit on me really skeeves me out. Although if they were so very sick and couldn’t help themselves of course I would gown up and put gloves on and clean them up . :)
.-= Vodka Logic´s last blog ..Sunday Rerun-Happiness is a Room Inside My Head =-.
I totally won’t drink out of a kid’s cup. Those little floaty things gross me out too! That is why my children drink out of plastic dark colored cups at the dinner table. I tell them it’s because plastic doesn’t break…but we know better.
LOL!
.-= swirl girl´s last blog ..The One In Which She Shares What She Has Learned =-.
I try not to anymore, simply because it is a little gross!
.-= Stephaine @ Geezees´s last blog ..What to put on OUR canvas bus roll art?? My kitchen is done! =-.
Agreed! I could care less about germs (unless anyone’s sick), it’s about seeing those “floaties” swimming around- ICK! I don’t even like to share my drink with my husband!
Hi Jill,
Yes, I’m a fresh soul for you. I found your link at mycup2yours.com. I must say that the title of your blog intrigued me so much I just had visit. And I was right in doing so. Your post about sharing drinks with your kids was hilarious. I have a toddler girl who almost always leaves floaters in her drinks….yeah, yuck! I hate it when you unsuspectingly take a drink of your water and suddenly your choking on the chunk of food from hell. It sticks in your throat; gags you; and leaves you ruined for drinking anything without first looking for the rest of your life. God love her…
Anyway, have a great day! Visit me anytime!
Kellie
Hahaha! I wrote almost this exact post when my youngest was a toddler. For me, it was the bits of half-chewed up food that she would deposit in my hand and ask me to sample. But, really, it amounts to pretty much the same thing. And there is NO WAY I would drink after them back then. The backwash was astonishing — and disgusting. I feel your pain.
.-= MommyTime´s last blog ..On Fatherhood and Motherhood =-.
The only time I would ever drink from a glass my kids had free access to would be if I was desperately hungry.
You could strain half a soggy sandwich out of that thing!
.-= LiteralDan´s last blog ..A conversation between M- and J-: Victoria’s open secret =-.
LOL. I’ve never really given it any thought until this post… My youngest, being a bit OCD, does not want to share his drinks with us either. ;-) As far as he’s concerned, we all have cooties…
.-= submom´s last blog ..sacré bleu =-.
I feel the same way. There’s always “something” floating in it after they take a drink. Makes me feel ill.
.-= Allison´s last blog ..Whole Wheat and Wheat Germ Pizza Dough =-.
I am with you on this one
I hear ya! Not a mom yet…TTC but have a 6 year old half brother that my hubby and I have been babysitting on weekends since he was 3…and familiar with the backwashed floating cruddies and the slimed lip of the cup…so gross. Couldn’t do the sharing…just couldn’t. It’s good to know your limitations in life…LOL!
Thanks for sharing!
http://thepursuitofmommyness.com/
.-= The Pursuit of Mommyness´s last blog ..The Pregnancy Sign Mind Game: Saturday Confessional Part 1 =-.
I am so with you on this one. I try at all costs to avoid ever drinking anything that my children have drank out of. I get ill just thinking of the floaties. :)
I do know what you mean. My lip was curling up a bit at the thought.
.-= Live.Love.Eat´s last blog ..Soup’s On: Tuscan Spinach, Bean & Sausage =-.
Drinking after my boys doesn’t bother me….in my opinion there are so many other crazy gross things that drive me batty.
I guess it goes along with the whole ‘pick your battles’ idea.
.-= Sunday Stilwell´s last blog ..Dealbreaker, anyone? =-.
The floaties is a deal breaker for me.
.-= Texasholly´s last blog ..Snotty nosed kid =-.
Yep, when my kids did the backwash thing, I wouldn’t share drinks. Now that they’re older, it’s not an issue. Whew.
.-= Susan Helene Gottfried´s last blog ..Byline: Chelle LaFleur — Gene McLean =-.
We have a saying in our house. After our 6 year old takes a drink from ANYTHING, we say “aaaaand now that’s YOUR drink”. There is nothing grosser than watching a small child utilize liquids. Although a close second is watching them manipulate a toothbrush, take it out of their mouths, put it back in, take it out, put it back in, take it out, maybe set it down for a few minutes, and then put it back in. I am gagging just thinking about it.
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..Dirty little kiss =-.
This was so funny (I needed the laugh) but true as well. I don’t even like sharing my drinks with my husband so I understand why you feel so strongly about it. Not sure what those floaty things are but I sure don’t want to be ingesting any of them. lol
.-= Linda´s last blog ..Giving Thanks =-.
I will drink about my son, but only the oldest. The youngest is a nasty pig. He takes after his dad, and not be, obviously.
.-= Heather, Queen of Shake Shake´s last blog ..Boring January =-.
The floaties are gross! You are not alone.
.-= Joy´s last blog .."All About MEme" Monday =-.
I’m with you! In that same vein, my children like to try something they think they’re going to eat, chew it just enough to be unrecognizable and then proceed to put it on MY plate or even better – hand it to me. Ewwwwwwwwwww.
.-= kristin´s last blog ..We’re allergic =-.
I so agree. Floaties in cups are gross, but what grosses me out more: floaties in the tub. And not the kind that comes from their mouths. : )
Would not, could not from a cup.
.-= Seattledad (Luke, I am Your Father)´s last blog ..Hexed =-.
Oh I am so with you on this one!
Like you said…what are those floaties? GROSS!
.-= Erin´s last blog ..Heros =-.
we call it ‘back wash’ in our house and kids are pretty much famous for it world wide. i hear ya.
.-= scrappysue´s last blog ..ugh =-.
LOL – that’s hilarious, but oh so true! When we go out, everyone has their own bottle.
.-= Elisa´s last blog ..Friends in all the far places. =-.
I so love the title of this post!
I do share drinks with my kids now, but they’re older and (slightly) less slobbery.
Not only do I NOT share drinks with my children, I never have, and now they don’t share with anyone else either.
My brother was visiting, grabbed my 15 year old sons water bottle, took a swig, and set it back down. When my son gently, and very deliberately, slowly pushed the bottle away from himself and toward the offending uncle, the uncle proclaimed that we were all weird.
This is the man that confessed once to using his fingers as toilet paper once when the bathroom was out instead of calling out for a new roll. I have no clue what plant he is from.
I don’t even want him in my house, much less touching ANYTHING here.
Ewww so true.. & why is it they always want to drink out of MOM’s glass?
You are NOT alone! I will never ever share my drinks with my kids. I always have a water bottle with me and whenever they ask for a “sip”..it’s like “Ugh. Here. Take it. ” Mommy will just die of thirst….:)
Thank God I’m not the only one that feels this way. My husband and some of my friends look at me like I’m being selfish when I tell my kids ‘Go get your own water, cup, etc’. This is one area I don’t mind being selfish. No floaties for me!
Cheryl my husband says I am selfish on this too! How crazy!
.-= Brittany at Mommy Words´s last blog ..Can you Guess Where It Hurts the Most? =-.
Sharing drinks with the kids is off limits. I don’t like to drink back-wash, I love my kids but I’ll pass on their back-wash
.-= beth aka confusedhomemaker´s last blog ..Ch-Ch-Chia Breast =-.
LOL! I couldn’t agree more. I will never forget that sip of orange drink through a straw with the mcnugget pieces in it. I wasn’t thinking – and it was one of the grossest things I’ve experienced as a mom!
I am the same way! Once they get a hold of my drink, it is theirs.
Tessie Mayes is the biggest backwasher ever!
I totally agree. Drinking after anyone is gross, but especially kids with the leftovers when they get done. So glad to know that there are so many other mommies out there with my weirdness about this.
–>I rarely let my son drink my drink because of THE BACKWASH. **Shudder**
http://www.websavvymom.com
.-= WebSavvyMom´s last blog ..Post It Note Tuesday =-.
Hilarious.
I am like that with my husband. We can make out on the couch for an hour ( not that we really do that, I mean, we’re not dating anymore, we’re 33) and he could reach over for my glass of water and I am all “Noo!!!!”
I have no idea. We’ve shared toothbrushes for goodness sake.
.-= erica´s last blog ..Meet Sophie: A very expensive teething toy =-.
Jill I am so with you. Kids’ drinks are nasty and the way they drink is nasty and mine even put hands into the drink. Even though they wash their hands I know they are still really nasty. So, uh, gag me with a spoon I do not want to share drinks.
You are right on mama!
.-= Brittany at Mommy Words´s last blog ..Best Thing About the New Baby =-.
I am with you 100% !
No way, can’t do it with anyone.
I don’t have kids yet but I won’t be sharing drinks with the, either!
.-= Patty´s last blog ..Cheering for the Black & Gold =-.
yuck, I’m with you, spitters!
I think I’m in the minority because I just figured it was part of my imprisonment in mommyhood! Like part of the job that I had to take on. I feel better knowing I DON’T HAVE TO share spit with my child for him to know I love him.
.-= Adventuroo´s last blog ..The Irony of Nesting in the Third Trimester =-.
I agree 100%. There is something about little mouths that is gross. And the floaties could be anything from weeks old fries in the car to cookies under he sofa….
Not only is it hilarious but it’s actually probably very WISE not to drink after them. :)
.-= Jodi´s last blog ..Some Crafty Things for the Craft/Sewing Room =-.
I’m wasn’t thrilled with sharing a drink with them, but I would do it. My gross out factor is when one of them uses my toothbrush.
.-= debbie´s last blog ..What Fuels A Child’s Imagination =-.
Doesn’t bother me, not sure that it ever did. I suppose that if I noticed a ton of floaties it might irk me. Although, I am only referring to my own children, wouldn’t do it with anyone else.
.-= Jack´s last blog ..Back To The Hospital…Again =-.
I hate that, too!
.-= Mwa´s last blog ..Gay Porn part VI: Bob Lady and Little Princess fight back =-.
I know “green” folks everywhere will die (or picket my house) when I say this but if my 2 year old takes a few sips out of my liter bottle of Fiji, that’s it, it’s done. The bottle is all his. And he won’t drink that much so it inevitably gets thrown out. But I can see the little bits of backwash floating around in there and I just can do it either. I’m so glad someone finally said something!
.-= adhocmom.com´s last blog .."Lady on Lady" Crime =-.
No, I’m right there with you. In fact, if one of my kids wants a sip of my drink I just hand it to them (I can’t deny my babies!) and then tell them they can just have it all. (I get to look like the selfless, generous mommy and I don’t have to squirm at the bits they leave behind.)
.-= Jane´s last blog ..Tunes for Tuesday Confessional =-.
I totally agree, I won’t touch any of my kids drinks with a ten foot pole. If they beg for a sip of what I have I can pour it down their throats from a distance.
.-= Rustin´s last blog ..Why Megapixels don’t matter and other consumer myths debunked =-.
Hell NO!
That is DISGUSTING!!!!!
.-= Jessica Jones´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday =-.
My husband gets so pissed at me about this! I can’t stand it either. It is totally gross and I’d rather dehydrate myself then drink after him. That and , why does my son stick his fingers in his mouth, then go to talk and feel the need to put said spit fingers on my clothes, arms, face. I get so annoyed. My husband’s response is “He’s your son. That shouldn’t gross you out. It’s doesn’t gross me out.” That’s because you’re gross too!
Oh, I totally agree! No eating after and definitely no drinking after my son. “We don’t share cups” is just the family policy, the only problems being that 1) my husband’s family shares drinks all the time (ew) and 2.) my son caught my husband and I sharing a drink and now is insulted. My husband started to comment that “it’s not like we don’t swap fluids” IN FRONT of my son, but a quick gut punch took care of that.
Oooh! Now that you mention it, I do tend to avoid my toddler’s cup whenever it is offered!
.-= Christie´s last blog ..Why Kids are No Good at Being Good =-.
Sometimes I’ll close my eyes and take a quick slug of Hollis’ water if I’m dying for some – you know, like I’m drinking whiskey or something.
Although, I did find myself eating something off his shirt the other day like a chimp… so my standards aren’t all that high, I suppose.
.-= Jessica – This Is Worthwhile´s last blog ..A worthwhile post #2: Globe Trotting In Heels =-.
Mine are all grown now but I remember that feeling very well. IF I HAD to share, I would just give it to them. Isn’t that terrible. I agree… backwash is just gross. I don’t even like drinking after my husband! LOL
This is totally funny. Kids and their crap. Their floaties. Their slobbery mouths–yup, the same ones we kiss but EW…they are NOT as cute when they are french-kissing my Vitamin Water Dammit!
I used to share everything and then I drew a line. Mama’s got to have a few things that are off limits. So stay away from that Cabernet little darlin!
.-= Sarah´s last blog ..This is my life: Just don’t call me Lois =-.
I’m with you on this. I pull boogers out of the twins’ noses with my bare hands. And I’m STILL changing their three year old size diapers. Hey – just today, I sniffed at something brown on the back of my hand to see if it was poop (epilogue: it was)… But I can’t drink their backwash. Must be universal.
.-= Kate Coveny Hood´s last blog ..Continuing to Cultivate Genius =-.
I’m waiting until spring to introduce cups without covers, but I don’t like sharing drinks with anyone and assume they’ll be no exception. I do sometimes nibble their leftover dino-nuggets, but only the side that hasn’t been sampled/slobbered.
.-= Deb´s last blog ..Sunday snippets =-.
Came upon your blog today after linking from a blog of another clearly fabulous woman who can write. And you, woman, can write! Yay! Enjoying a number of these and looking forward to following you more closely.
.-= Cindy S´s last blog ..Disney Nuggets Part Four – "A Million Little Shoes" =-.
OH MY GOD! I was starting to think that The Husband was right in calling me a bit nutty for not sharing drinks with my kids! I absolutely refuse to share a drink. And for anyone who wonders why, I dare you to try the following……..
Give a 2 year old child an oreo cookie.
Watch the child eat the cookie.
Offer the child a cup of water to drink.
When the child is done drinking, take the cup back and look at the water.
How much of that cookie is now floating in the water???
I rest my case.
It’s just disgusting and wrong.
Exactly!!! Thank you for the brilliant illustration, and excuse me while I go and puke. ;)