I have a friend who refuses to change diapers. He’ll hold and cuddle. He’ll change the baby’s clothes. He’ll help with the laundry and vacuuming, but change a diaper? There he puts his foot down – NO.
I beg to change diapers. Me!! Me! Let me! I have to tone down my enthusiasm so my family doesn’t think I’m too strange. But what could be better than changing a newborn’s diaper?
I place the baby lovingly on her changing pad. Her little arms swing wide open as if she’s saying, “whoa, where’s the sides to this thing? Am I going to fall off? Hey mom, I liked it better all cooped up inside of you.”
She settles down as I place my hand on her tiny chest, feeling her heart beat beat beat like that of a tiny bird on a branch. She turns her face toward my voice, her eyes not really focusing yet. But I can tell she recognizes me.
I didn’t talk to her softly via my daughter’s ballooning belly for nothing.
“Hey little one,” I whisper. “This is cool. Just you and me and a diaper. Now I can tell you all the secrets to life, and no one’s around to disagree.”
The baby quiets as if she’s listening real hard.
I keep one hand on her smooth brand-new body as the fingers on my other hand pull off the Velcro on each side of her diaper. She whimpers a little, like a tiny toy dog, and my first advice comes out, “relax and enjoy this – before long you have to take care of yourself. Right now, you can just lie back and take it easy.” She stops fussing. I talk nonsense as I stroke a warm wipe on her belly, through her crevices and around her bottom. A warm wipie!
“Oh my,” I croon. “You don’t know how lucky you are. This has just got to feel good.”
She seems to agree, putting her fist to her mouth in astonishment. I place some ointment on my finger and tenderly smooth it all over her bottom.
Her new skin feels as soft as a baby bird’s feather, or as the fluff that flies out of a newborn dandelion.
“Take care of your skin” is another piece of advice I administer as I begin to tuck on the new diaper. “Sun feels good, but believe me, wear a hat to protect your beautiful cherubic face.”
The babe has had enough of a grandmother’s advice for one diaper change. Her body stiffens and her face scrunches into a cry as she longs for the security of a tight womb or, barring that, a loving hug and a tight blanket.
I wrap her in a pink blankie that is so soft it makes my skin shiver. Then I hold her up against me with my last piece of advice – “always remember that you are loved so completely, the earth rotates around YOU, not the sun.”
The sweet soft new being becomes as still as a lake on a warm summer’s day. She’s soaking in every word I say.
I just know she is.
Dedicated to my six grandbabies, and to the new baby in our extended family – Archie.
What a great post!
LikeLike
Thanks, Barb. Your time in a little while. 🙂
LikeLike
Babies are so soft and sweet. Your love for your grandchildren shines through in this lovely post. They are lucky to have a grandmother to talk to them, hold them and change their diapers. ❤
LikeLike
I’m afraid I was too ‘swooshy’ and gooey on this one, but I can’t help it. Who isn’t swooshy and gooey over little babies!?
LikeLike
It´s OK to be swooshy and gooey when talking about babies. I skyped with my 8 year old great granddaughter last night and felt all gooey!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Moved…
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLike
How I’d love you to be my granny! Super post.
LikeLike
Ha Ha. Thank you. I sorta wore my heart on my writing sleeve on this one…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I suppose it depends whether the nappies contents make him heave. If it’s not that then there’s no excuse. He’ll not experience the closeness you so obviously feel.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
LikeLike
You are so funny. It’s a lot easier to change the diaper of an infant, then a 2-year-old, I’ll give you that. :-0
LikeLike
What a sweet post to your grandkids. Nothing like bonding with a beloved baby…even if it’s over a dirty diaper. 🙂
LikeLike
I’m afraid some may think me odd, but truly, you’re right. We moms/dads/grandparents do bond over diapers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Six grandbabies and you still love changing diapers? You’re definitely a keeper!
Love the sweet pics. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks Carrie. I should set the record straight, though. I’ll happily change the baby’s diaper. The toddler’s? um not so much. 😉
LikeLike
Fair enough. 😉
LikeLike
So, so special. You, her and your time together.
LikeLike
Here’s the thing. I watch my grown-up daughter with my 91-year-old mom, who’s not quite herself anymore, and all I see is love and caring. My mom changed my daughter’s diapers for her first 2 years, played cards and laughed and giggled with her for over 30 years. The bonding is stronger than glue. This is what I hope for!
LikeLike
The glue is setting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a sweet post. Only a grandmother would enjoy changing a diaper. Love how you talk with her.
LikeLike
I surely never expected to be all gushy over changing a diaper!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a lovely post, so warm and loving. It is something I have never experienced but I would love to do.
LikeLike
If you lived closer, I’d invite you to come over and diaper change with me! 🙂 ❤
LikeLike
Thanks😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I cannot wait until our next grandbaby is born in Nov and get to cuddle, snuggle, rock and ,yes, change diapers! Thanks for the reminder of all the fun things to come ❤️
LikeLike
Well, you know what it’s all about – and you are the BEST grand grand grand mom.
LikeLike
What a beautiful moment you’ve shared with us Pam, I love your appreciation of this task, the way you’ve made it so poetic.
LikeLike
Thanks – I was afraid of sounding too sappy, but around infants, the sap just keeps on running. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I miss those days so much xxxx
LikeLike
I get it – the time is too short and goes waaaaay too fast.
LikeLike
I am beyond diaper changing (unless I’m around for the great-grands), and I never quite saw it as the wonderful opportunity that you do. Now I wish I had a diaper to change.
LikeLike
I love your sense of humor. You are a grand one, my friend.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
IT;S….BEAMING MOTHER TIME!!!!!!
LikeLike
thanks for the reblog, Jonathan!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah this is so sweet and filled with love and tenderness. I know you love that little infant to the nth degree. She will have this to post to read when she is grown and will be astonished.
LikeLike
I know – but I may have to wait until she’s, what? 25, before she’ll appreciate it without being embarrassed. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s the truth. 🙂
LikeLike
I’d love to go back to those days of diaper changing, but alas I’ll have to wait until my two big grandsons have children of their own, and that will be awhile yet.
You put into words just how special a time that is, Your friend doesn’t know what he’s missing–unless he’s been cursed with an extremely weak stomach–and if that’s the case, best he stays away. 🙂
LikeLike
I hope it’s not just women who are able to appreciate these subtleties of grace, these moments of pure love, found in the act of changing a diaper. I do wonder about men who can do the most gross things (play in mud, pull a fish off a hook, or stab a worm into a hook) and yet be unable to change their baby’s diaper. !!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe it’s more they don’t WANT to change diapers than CAN’T. My husband had no problem with it; a lot of his friends did, though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Having three children in 3 1/2 years my early days of diaper changing is a muddle….but I have been redeemed with grand and great grand kids. It’s a wonderful opportunity to bond. As they get a little older (almost 4) and still refuse to be potty trained that takes a bit of grit and bear it. No cooing or cuddling, just get ‘er done. Luckily that’s the exception to the rule, in my case anyway. He’s 5 now, and one day we were in deep conversation when he decided to jiggle the jello under my arm. ” Gramdma, are you old?” when he saw the look that I give when anyone refers to my age, he said, ” Grandma you’re not old, just your arm is.” He’ll probably be a politician!
LikeLike
Oh, this is hysterical! With six grands now, I agree – diapering an infant is delicious – older ones, not so much. And I have one at 4 who also is refusing to go with the potty program. Sigh. But he’s also the one who may be a politician or a lawyer, I wonder if we’ve found a link here. 🙂 🙂 :-0
LikeLike
Awwww. That’s nice. 🙂
LikeLike
So good to see you here, Danielle. I’ve gone over and visited you at your site too. Great post on the new Kindle Scout book.
LikeLike
Oh yes, I feel the same way you do! Makes me remember bonding with my granddaughter during those first few weeks of her life last fall. Beautifully written!
LikeLike
Thank you, Barbara. Too fleeting and fast, thus I love to use my words to make that intimate time with a newborn grand last.
LikeLike
How I loved to hold and cuddle my grandbabies. There is something just so special about the new life you hold in your arms. And I agree that changing diapers was a special time too. Now my little ones are grown, and my youngest now says I am vintage. I still love her (and her sister) 🙂
LikeLike
Vintage is cool these days, and very popular. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself. Ha Ha.
LikeLike
Yes, I get it. There is an gentle connection shared when the diaper is off and you are caring for that innocent babe. I still love the smell of baby powder!
LikeLike
Yes, yes, yes. You get it. Bonding and baby powder – can’t get much better than that. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a beautiful antidote to that awful video going around Facebook of a guy gagging while he changes a diaper. And proof, once again, that our attitude toward a task determines whether a task is enjoyable or distasteful.
LikeLike
I know. After I posted this a number of people sent me the link to the dad unable to change a baby’s diaper without getting sick. Not to judge, but…really? I know that to some I’m a bit ‘strange’ to think it a beautiful act of love, to change a diaper, but I’m sticking to my view.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow Pam, what a beautiful, beautiful post. It’s so full of the softest, shiniest gems, like the line about putting your hand on the tiny chest and feeling the heartbeat – pure magic. I really feel it, I get it. I don’t have children myself but was blessed to spend quite a bit of time with a friend’s newborn last year, during his first month of life…unspeakably precious. A stunning piece of writing dear friend…and indeed, those six grandchildren are as lucky as a grandchild can get, to have you 🙂 Hugs, H xxx
LikeLike
THANK you, Harula. For you to call my writing full of some shiny gems is a great compliment. You are a poet who speaks my language, but in a way so beautiful I gasp sometimes at the imagery. Hmm, a mutual admiration society in our little blog sphere. xo
LikeLike
Mutual admiration societies are where it’s at 🙂 Isn’t it wonderful to feel the need to bow to someone/something and then it/they bow right back at you…well I bow to you 🙂 H x
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am ‘bowed’ under (and over) with gratitude. 🙂
LikeLike
I love, Love, LOVE this post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
❤
LikeLike
Such a sweet post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
You have a way with children! And such wise and motherly collectedness, I felt cradled just reading this :).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Feeling cradled – what a wonderful expression. Thank you!!
LikeLike
So sweet. Brings back memories.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know – you can even smell that sweet baby smell, yes?
LikeLike