The Diaper Philosophy

When the boys were little it was decided that Mommy would be the one to change their diapers. Now, before anyone goes all ultra feminist on me thinking that I’m some male chauvinist leaving the shitty work to the wife, it was a decision Char made after I attempted to change my first diaper. It was at that moment she decided cleaning one mess was easier than cleaning two. I have a very weak stomach; sue me.

You may think I am joking, but I assure I am not. While babysitting one child who had the guts to go in his diaper when no one else was around, it literally took me twenty minutes to change his diaper. I strapped him to the changing table and then had to take several deep breaths to gain the courage to loosen one of the straps holding the explosion in place. It took another several deep breaths before I could go and peel the tape back on the other side. They really should provide gas masks in nurseries for volunteers. Or hazmat suits.

Whenever I was left with babysitting duties, it was a revival of prayer hoping Mommy would return before one of the boys dootied in their diaper. However, once the dirty deed is done you can only wait so long before action must be taken. Things go downhill fast over time and soon you may have the child in another room while you’re outside sucking in the fresh air. It also promises a very cold reception when the next person comes home and picks up the child. When it comes to diapers, change is always necessary and usually the stench will tell you long before the baby will.

The same philosophy holds true with life. One can only tolerate so much crap before a change must be initiated. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a career, a relationship, or a residence. A person should only have to put up with so much before they make a change for a fresh start and clean beginning, hopefully before the stench of a current situation settles in for good.

Now, I’m not one to readily toss out something that could easily be repaired. Neither was Brian. When his daughter’s diapers lost those tape straps on the side that hold it up, he grabbed the ever faithful duct tape and did a wrap around bandage that saved the day. No need to toss it into the diaper pail just yet. However, even after the repair a change was necessary within a couple of hours. Duct tape can only do so much, after all.

Sometimes things can be repaired. A conversation can hold a relationship together. Some plumber’s tape keeps the house from flooding. A promotion gives you hope to hold onto the career a little longer. Things seem better and so you keep going, and hopefully, it stays better and life gets easier. However, when the smell of bullshit overshadows the aroma of tradition, it’s time for a change no matter how hard that change may be.

Like with the diapers, there are times I don’t have the stomach for it. I want to try and ignore it and pray things will just work out, that the stench will go away or at least be covered by Fabreeze and life can go on as it always has. Yet, sooner or later the baby has to be laid down and the diaper taken off and replaced. For the sake of a teenager who seems to be heading down the wrong path, you may need to change where you live. If the job is heading nowhere and taking a toll on your family and health, a career change could be a great prescription. If a friendship has turned toxic, then it’s time to remove the hazardous waste before the effects cause irreparable harm. Change. Sometimes it just has to happen, whether you want to do it or not.

As a child cannot reside in a dirty diaper, you cannot remain in a bad situation. Sometimes you have to do what’s best for you in order to have a healthier journey through life. Make the changes you need to today and smell how much sweeter the air is.

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