I was a different person before I started cloth diapering. Now, I know I have added a child since then, changed jobs (read: decided to stay at home with my kids – the most important job I’ve ever had) and become less of a newbie in my town… that’s definitely enough to feel different, but it’s not exactly what I’m talking about.
Cloth diapering has taught me things about myself that I may not have otherwise realized or been able to hone. Specifically:
I’m Committed: I’ve battled stink and rashes for such a long time now and I feel like I could have easily given up cloth diapering many months ago. In fact, the old me might have. But I have been determined to make this work and try to find a solution (my patience is starting to wear thin, but I’m sticking with it!).
I’m Green!: A lot of people talk about cloth diapers as a gateway to living a more earth-friendly life. It’s definitely been that way for me. Before my daughter was born and I started cloth, I wouldn’t have considered the life we were living particularly green. Now, we are not only not throwing away a mountain of disposable diapers, but we are composting, using cloth napkins and rags and recycling a heck of a lot more than we used to.
I’m Really into Laundry: I have never known so much about my washing machine and dryer, detergents, laundry additives or my water composition. Seriously, reading my machine manual? Who am I? I’ll tell you who, I’m a person who has very clean underwear and never ruins a top anymore. Learning about my machine and washing techniques for my diapers, I’ve been able to make my entire laundry routine run smoother and get much better results.
I’m an Advocate: There aren’t too many things I am as passionate and vocal about as I am about cloth diapers. It feels good to actively promote and support a movement like cloth diapering. I like to talk about it. A lot.
I’m a Teacher: I have to admit, this is not necessarily a new personality trait. I’ve always liked to mentor, to teach, to advise others, but helping other new moms make the jump into cloth diapering is so much fun…. and it’s rewarding on so many levels too.
I’m a Sniffer: Maybe it’s because I spend so much time with my nose in diapers making sure there isn’t a trace of scent left in them when they come out of the wash, but now (or maybe I always did and didn’t realize it?) I smell ev-er-y-thing. The yogurt verging on its expiration date, my son’s jeans (can they be worn again before washing?), wow that garlic I chopped last night is really staying with me, hunting down a rogue diaper left too long in the diaper bag – you get the idea.
As you can see, cloth diapering has made me a better person and revealed some personality traits I didn’t even know I had. What about you? What has cloth diapering taught you about yourself?
