After a few weeks of cloth diapering tips and tricks, Babble.com news and best green baby products, we’re thrilled to return to our Monday Mama series.
Meg M., new mom to six-month old Eli and wife to Josh, lives with her family outside of Pittsburgh, PA. She blogs about domestic open adoption, parenthood and life at God Will Fill This Nest. She is a developmental specialist for children from birth through three years old and also helps with her family’s restaurant.
Q: How have cloth diapers changed your life?
I honestly did not even know that anyone cloth diapered until two years ago when a family I see for my job began using FuzziBunz (I work for a state program for infants and toddlers with developmental delays). The second I saw that cute little baby running around with that fluffy bum, I knew I wanted to use them, but didn’t know much about them or have any kids yet. When we began the adoption process last year, one of the first things I did was purchase 24 Fuzzibunz One-Size Diapers from a local retailer, for the future baby that would come to our home one day. Little did I know that six short weeks later our son would be placed with us.
By choosing to cloth diaper Eli, I feel like I am giving him the best that we can offer as parents. The first few weeks that he spent in disposables were a constant mess of red skin and bleeding diaper rash…since the switch his skin has been clear and healthy. I like knowing we are doing something natural, and safe, and beneficial for him. I have added to my diaper “stash” since he was born and am in love with new Fuzzibunz Elites that we just purchased. Adoption is also expensive, and I always tell waiting adoptive families that cloth diapering is one way to recoup some of the agency cost. By the time Eli is potty trained, we will have saved enough money to offset application and home study fees. Between the cost and the benefits to our child, it has certainly changed our life for the better.
Q: The first thing I do when I wake up is….
Honestly, the first thing I do is look over and stare at my baby in thankful amazement. Even though he is over six months old, Eli still sleeps in a mini-crib in our bedroom for attachment purposes. Every morning, I check on my sweet baby and feel overwhelmed with how awesome his story is. I love that he is close by and that he is learning early that we will always be there for him. And….the second thing I do is check Facebook on my phone….not quite so deep and moving, huh?
Q: No matter how much time it takes, I always….
Find time to talk to my friends and husband. I love my family, and LOVE being a mother. However, we mamas (and dads!) need to remember to also care for ourselves and foster healthy relationships. Even if its a 15-minute phone conversation with my best friend, I try to make sure to stay connected, to ask about how others are doing and to (very) occasionally go out for lunch or coffee without the babies. I think it makes us better parents in the long run. Playdates are fantastic and certainly one of my favorite parts of motherhood. But the “Girls Night Out” dinner I had with some friends from church this week was equally needed and actually re-energizing for me. Of course, we still talked about babies half the time anyways…but I returned home that evening ready to cuddle Eli, feeling refreshed as a mommy.
Q: The most unusual thing in my diaper bag or purse is…..
A random assortment of pamphlets and flyers on community events. Being employed in human services for seven years, I accumulate a lot of “stuff” in my car, bag and house. Providing families with resources as a career trickles over into my personal life, too. I love being able to whip out a brochure for someone about a local daycare, pull out my phone and give a friend the names and numbers of two local eye specialists for kids or tell everyone I know where the upcoming community rummage sales are. MOPS, special needs and adoption support groups, and free events for kids are all on my radar. Community connectedness is important to me and I like to pass that knowledge on to others.
Q: If I could live in one outfit for the rest of my life, it would be….
I do like style and enjoy dressing up when its appropriate…but I am all about comfort! I would have to say my favorite outfit is my black capri pants that are sooooo faded and old, and a cotton tank top (with a zip up hoodie if its chilly!). Flip-flops are also my shoe of choice. We spend weekends through the summer at our family’s cabin in the mountains and my capris/tank/flip-flops is my uniform for the warm months. The second I get home from work, I change into “comfy clothes”- then I feel like I can relax, hang out with my husband and play with Eli. I even have a stash of comfy clothes at my mom’s house for when we go there to hang out!
