This week I'm returning again to my earlier series of things I have noticed or been changed by because of being the at-home caregiver. This week: the beauty of the baby wipe!For the most part, you don't ever have any history with baby wipes until you have a baby. And when you have a baby, you have a stash of baby wipes everywhere. Right? They're in the bathroom, in the car, on the stroller, in the diaper bag, etc. You never leave home without them. However, in general, it has been my experience in observing families who grow past the baby stage, that when they grow out of changing diapers they also grow out of keeping baby wipes around. Too bad for them! A baby wipe is a beautiful thing.First, they're versatile. I swear, if you look closely at those MacGyver shows in the late 80's and early 90's, I bet he had a small package of baby wipes somewhere. After all, they're great for removing dirt off of little hands in a pinch, great for wiping stains or marks off the walls, better than a tissue for that congested sneeze, and better than a napkin for removing fast food grease off your hands in the car.Second, they have those handy, hardshell traveling cases. See, even the baby wipe people understand the importance of protecting these valuable things. And, these cases slide easily into car door map pockets, pack easily for picnics, and don't take up much room in a hiking backpack. Third, and most important, a wipe gets the nod for that baby fresh feeling after rising from the toilet. I mean really, this IS the reason we use them on babies - it's just a nice clean finish to the job. When you think about it, why aren't we just using toilet paper on babies from the beginning? Toilet paper's what we use, right? We treat it like some big graduation or something, "Congratulations! You wear big boy underwear now so you get rewarded by getting to use toilet paper." Naaaa. That's not a reward any more than turning six now finds you going to school all day. Sorry kid.So, my suggestion is to treat yourself to some baby wipes. We prefer unscented and we have them in every bathroom in our home and in every car. Our kids know, you do the serious work with toilet paper and finish clean with a wipe. Bye-bye skid marks and hello clothes-line fresh. It makes a difference. Even my oldest daughter who attends Indian Trail notices the difference. "I hate using the bathroom at school, " she said recently. When I asked her why she replied, "because they don't have any wipes!" It's been said that the simple things in life make all the difference. I agree. A hot cup of coffee, a hug, a smile, a "thank you" for a job well done, a sunset - these are all things that move people and inspire art. I'd add baby wipes to the list. They put an added spring in your step. Your boss was whistling while walking down the hall? Yep, my guess is they use baby wipes. Enjoy.
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