Neglect the Housework for Health
July 5, 2006 by kate baggott
Filed under Baby Care
It is no secret that I would rather write for pennies an hour than do housework. Sure, I like a clean bathroom and kitchen, but other than that my husband complains that I wouldn’t see a mess at a bomb site.
Luckily, my view is the healthier one. According to an article in the Irish Independent (register to read, it’s worth it), we’re all too clean for our own good and the kids are getting asthma and allergies because of it. The secret to reducing allergies may be to have a furry pet and slack off on the housework a little, says a study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
The Independent’s analysis of the study, it confirms the “Hygene Hypothesis”.
“According to the hygiene hypothesis, exposure to naturally occurring infections and microbes might essentially immunise against the development of asthma and allergies,” says reporter Aoife Anderson.
For new mothers this is further justification for taking a nap instead of vacuuming.
I knew I liked you. A lot. Happy No Housework Day. Or Week.
Excellent – with two cats and a messy house, my kids should be covered! Not that I needed an excuse not to clean….
Kerri, Twocat,
I am all about making sure that housekeeping doesn’t get in the way of living.
My dad always told us that we would eat a peck of dirt before we die… lol, of all the things he said to me… this is what I remember!
So THAT’s why our two daughters don’t have allergies now that they’re all grown up. Gee, I’m glad to know my unclean house served a good purpose
.
I voted for you today on BLOG VILLAGE.
Weary- My gran used to say “We all eat a peck of dirt before we start school.” And you know, if I think about it, I know what dirt tastes like. I think that’s a sign my childhood was good.
Dirty- Give yourself a pat on the back for such successful parenting! And thanks for the vote.
This is wonderful news as the cat likes to sleep in the crib and we have enough dog hair around the house to produce a different wig every week.
Haha, that explains why none of my brothers or I have asthma or dust/pollen/pet related allergies. Thank god for having Dickens to keep us healthy.
Feminista- I know you don’t let the cat sleep with the baby, and there might just be a market for those wigs as a new home-based business.
Marisa- Dogs aren’t just our friends. They are valuable medical professionals.