Sushi, Soap, and Hand Sanitizer

The plan is to make soap tonight. Homemade liquid soap. And this brings me to a confession. We aren't really handwashers, this family of ours. Sure, when the six year old had cancer and a completely absolutely suppressed immune system. Where a fleck of dust carrying the wrong opportunistic pathogen could lead to our dear daughter's demise. Well, then we were big believers in Purell and all things hand-sanitizing.

But nowadays, with those happy white blood cells zooming through the bloodstream, why bother? Frankly I'm a little opposed to the obsessive hand-washing of our culture. In part, this comes form the fact that triclosan (a compound which, some believe, promotes drug resistance in certain bacteria and carries a whole host of potential risks to users) is in most hand soaps. So when I'm in a public restroom I can risk E. coli or wash my hands in triclosan and hope we aren't selecting the most drug-resistant of the E.coli. I love the Purell but not the unidentified dispenser soap. So, sometimes I compromise with just a water-rinse. Plus, it keeps the old ladies from scowling and might even let me fly under the radar in case researchers have hidden cameras in the public restroom ... I'm not making this stuff up. (BTW, I used to be a member of the American Society of Microbiology ... hmm ... you'd think I'd be a better hand washer after working with hepatitis and Pseudomonas)

The other reason for my hand-washing disdain is that (in most cases) a little dirt never hurt anyone (for exceptions to the rule, see above). It's even good for the immune system, right? Like the three second rule. Okay, okay. Maybe it's an excuse for laziness. And on that note, I've noticed that the children are washing their hands. Maybe because of their sitter. Maybe school. And, if I'm being honest, they are pretty grimy kids. So maybe hand-washing is a good idea. Plus, if I'm ever going to earn that Mother-of-the-Year award, I need to at least have some hand soap in the (otherwise very dirty) bathrooms. Right?

The children are uber-excited about the soap-making. They are perhaps slightly more excited that "a friend from mommy's work" will be participating and that there will be snacks.

So, tonight, we make soap. And, possibly hummus. But not in the same bowl.

The six year old suggested we serve left over veg sushi roll. I should mention there are 4 pieces, and one is falling apart. The four year old contributed "I hate sushi!" He also hated the miso soup and the sushi rice. He did, however, gobble down the carrot slivers (intended for sushi-filling) and the bowl of apple sauce that accompanied the meal. Do the Japanese eat apple sauce? Topped with cinnamon?

So tonight we make soap. But what about the snacks? Any suggestions?