Thy Bottom Stinketh
By Bronwyn in Adopting moms, Cape Town Moms Abroad, Expecting Moms, Moms, Stay-at-home moms, Working moms on 05 21st, 2009 | 2 responses
Unpleasant duties by Adriaen Brouwer, depicting changing diapers
Lately I’ve had little time to sit and type between chores but time to think and the journey of my thoughts led me to ponder the wonders of what I like to call “convenient caring”: We have formula if the breast doesn’t work out. Purity in a bottle. Nappies we don’t have to fold or (for the most part) wash. As soon as my mind wondered about the origins of nappies, I stuck with the thought for a while. I tried to imagine a world where cloth or leaves were used to cover the southern cheeks. Often fresh air was the diaper of the day as stated by wikipedia: “Diapering, or clothing children not yet toilet trained is as old as human history. In some countries with warmer climates, babies were kept naked and mothers tried to anticipate their bowel movements so as to avoid mess near their living areas. ”
I can just imagine that conversation: “Excuse me Madam, canst thou tarry with me a while?” “Tis not possible,” would be the answer “Meself is in anticipation.” or ” I turned from my anticipation post, twas thus how the day was doomed.” The world must have definitely smelt different back then!
HAHAAHA! THank goodness for disposibles!
Love your picture! Love the wy he bends the child over the knee!
there is a new-aged opinion on the matter too, where many “hippy” mom’s are keeping their babes bare bum for most of the day, then using nappies at night. The theory is that wearing nappies teaches children that weeing and pooing in your clothes is right, when clearly it isn’t… so basically doing a sort of potty training from birth.
Not for me though, I’m not giving up these specific mod-cons!