Sorry about the toilet talk but...

By Andrea

This may be jinxing it. And if I may be jinxing it by thinking it, I am almost certainly jinxing it by writing about it. But I am pleased to report that our family (read: our children) are Almost Completely Out of Diapers.

Holy cats. I never thought this day would come.

My husband and I have been changing diapers for five years now... for the first child and now the second. It's taken a lot of Smarties, kisses, hooting and hollering and praise, but I think we're finally almost there.

It's funny, but now whenever I'm in a public toilet with Sarah (and I'm the one who has to go) she has learned that the sound of a tinkle means to cheer as loudly as you can. In a public washroom the sound of a little girl yelling "YAY - MUMMY PEED" along with the ferocious clapping of little hands never fails to elicit a laugh or two from the complete stranger sitting in the next stall.

Accidents still happen on the odd occasion, but Sarah has finally learned to recognize the special moment of *when*.

It's funny how much this reliance on diapers ties you down. When they're really small it's the Diaper Bag. You can't go anywhere without it. For me, the bag was like an albatross around my neck. It was such a pain to drag it everywhere. Heaven forbid if someone forgot it.

When the kid is older you drop the bag and just stuff a diaper and a small package of wipes in your purse, and throw an extra change of clothes in the back of the car. And then suddenly you find yourself not worrying about it. It becomes a non-issue because they're older and more reliable.

I am discovering that the freedom of being able to leave the house with just clothes on your (and the children's) back is wonderful.

I have a feeling we've bought our last bag of diapers folks... I see the light!!

Comments

[Lee]

Diapers bags? Gah! That's what back pockets are for! No more diapers, I can't imagine. I guess its time for you to have another child!

[Kelly]

Whoo hoo, yay for you!

I've just started it all over again. Egads.

[Melissa]

Diaper Free In 2003...you are living my dream.

[Helene]

Congrats! I know the feeling. Jess starts PT right after the holidays (that's when daycare is willing to cooridate efforts) and I can't wait. Not because of the diapers- but rather because she's takin a keen interest in taking her diapers off herself. We've had more accidents in last 2 months - due to undone diapers tabs - than we've had in the last two years. :)