In the early stages of parenting, a stinky diaper is the worst thing that can happen. As your kids get older, other stinky things occur. Yes, life can be as messy as a stinky diaper!
- You’re not quite sure if the friend your child is hanging with is a good influence.
- You’ve overcommitted and now you and your spouse are supposed to be at four different events at the same time.
- You’ve stretched the checking account so far you could make a lethal slingshot out of it.
It doesn’t take much imagination to see the problems and distractions around us. The bigger challenge is to address the messy situations before they get out of control.
Good and Bad Surprises
Just yesterday, my wife and I were at church. She was busy getting the classrooms ready when she noticed a toddler with a dirty diaper. There it was in the middle of her preparation! She had a choice to deal with it or ignore it.
And since she’s the take-charge sort of leader, she dealt with it. She solved the problem. And later, the mom was very grateful.
Bad surprises happen. Yet some good ones do too. The family knows my wife cares for them and the child. By addressing the situation quickly, a distraction didn’t turn into a bigger problem later.
Yes, life gets complicated and smelly. You change one set of problems for another. But take heart in knowing all these problems are temporary. Stinky diapers, full calendars, and rubbery checkbooks eventually fade away.
The day-to-day challenges of parenting and functioning can be tough. Life can be as messy as a stinky diaper. But with the mess comes many blessings. There are baby smiles and coos. Keep your perspective during the many smelly times.
Editor’s Note: I originally published this blog on October 6, 2015. I revamped and updated it for timeliness and comprehensiveness.
