When Fatherhood Becomes About ‘So Many Diapers!’

have changed. According to my Mom, my Dad changed fewer than a dozen dia- pers while they were married. A dozen diapers? I’ve changed that many in a day!

And, while it’s possible that Mom’s recollec- tions are a bit off, (this is the same person, after all, who orders McNuggets at Wendy’s) I feel pretty confident in saying Dad didn’t change very many diapers. My wife and I don’t have a system for who “gets” to change a diaper.

Usually, it’s whoever notices the diaper needs to be changed. Or, it’s the person who is less busy at that moment. (Since I’m naturally lazier than her, I “get” to change a lot of diapers.) (So many diapers!).

That’s why it’s so frustrating when restaurants or stores don’t have a diaper changing table in the men’s room.

Every men’s room should have a diaper changing table. Why? If not, where am I going to change that baby’s diaper? On the bathroom floor? In the bathroom sink? Right there on the restaurant table? Is that really what you want?

Diaper changing tables don’t really take up much room, and the ben- efits are tremendous. Or, I could just let the smell of my baby’s poopy diaper waft through the entire restaurant. (“Waiter, my soup smells a little funny.”)

Many establishments put the dia- per changing table in the handicap toilet stall. That’s all good and well, but what if someone is using that stall? There’s a special awkwardness involved in standing and holding a poopy baby while waiting for some- one to finish their business.

That said, a changing table in a toilet stall is still preferable to no changing table at all. Especially in- furiating are those times when there is a diaper station in the women’s restroom, but there isn’t one in the men’s restroom. Come on, people! It’s 2020!

Having diaper changing tables in women’s bathrooms but not in men’s bathrooms is basically say- ing, “Changing diapers is women’s work.” And while my Dad’s gen- eration might have wholeheartedly agreed with that statement, if I were to utter that sentence out loud....? Well, let’s just say that it wouldn’t go over very well.

I don’t like changing diapers, but I am well aware that my wife doesn’t like it, either.

And, as a husband and father, it is my responsibility to help my wife and children in any way I can, even if it means dealing with poop. Times have changed. Diapers have been changed. (So many diapers!) I know, because I’ve changed them. For more funny-ish stuff, check out slowjoe40.com.