by
Mama Fox The other day I was blogging about whatever random things were on my mind and I mentioned that my 15 month old was hanging out in my lap naked to air out some diaper rash. A friend of mine, a new mother, said that I was brave. She wouldn't have a naked baby in her lap, my guess is out of fear of being peed on.
In the 5 years I have been a mom I have been peed and pooped on more times then I can count. I have even seriously held my hand out to catch vomit when one of my kids got that look. And yes I did catch it. I have been drooled on and I have stepped in half-chewed food that ended up on the floor. I have changed hazmat worthy diapers. My gag reflex is pretty much non-existent at this point.
There's just something about being a mom that makes you way more tolerant to the icky stuff. Before becoming a mom I was almost horrified at the thought that one day I would be spit up on. By the time my third baby came along, spit up barely made me blink. Half the time, I was unconsciously grabbing the nearest fabric to catch it before it got on their shirt.
My general philosophy is that humans are washable. Yes it's gross but honestly, I would rather jump in the shower myself and give the child a bath than spend 30 minutes trying to scrub it out of the carpet.
How has your attitude changed towards bodily fluids since becoming a mother?
Comments (16)
I'm not a mom yet --- give me three (I'm due with my 1st at the beginning of June) but I've worked with kids (kinder - 2nd) for the past four years. I've been thrown up on, peed on, dealt with kids who didn't make it to the bathroom on time, sneezed on, bled on.....I just don't care anymore.
Like you said, humans are washable.
At first it was just my kid, there's just something about giving birth that makes you go "well he/she was INSIDEo fme, that's about as wet and gross as you can get" so the others tuff doesnt phase me anymore, now i've got that mom attitude where I dont care whos kid it is I'm immune lol
what a great post!! LOL! I've always had such a weak stomach and still do for that matter unless it comes to the kids... I call it 'mommy mode' My husband has known that if I even get a touch of food on my hands to get it off before I get sick but it's such a different thing with the kids. I've held my hand up for vomit as well... in fact last night at my church chili cook off.
It's so weird what happens when you become a mother! :)
Well, after helping raise 5 kids from birth I think I've grown used to being vomited, peed, pooed and spit on. The only thing I still cant take are boogers! I finally was able to actually reach out and wipe a booger off my baby brothers face (with my hand!). My mom laughed at me cause she still has that problem and trust me, if it was any other kid I wouldn't have done it. I would have looked for a towel or something. But he's my baby brother so I love him and give him lots of special exceptions!
A lot of people think they'll never get used to the gross stuff. But trust me, now, if I get poo or vomit on my hand I don't even fret. I just go ahead and look for a napkin and move on.
I have been around children my whole life.... I have also helped care for terminally illl people... and working with farm animals helps too.....Bodily fluids have no affect on me whatsoever..... ~ Echo
I am not a mom, but I think body fluids are body fluids. I have a younger sister who I helped take care of (change, feed...ect) and there really isn't anything gross about spit up and such. As a wise man once said: Everybody poops. ;)
What an awesome post! I'm pregnant now, and even before i found out that i was, i had the worst gag-reflex in the world! I've been thinking about how i am going to deal with it, but you gave me hope that it will come naturally! thanks! :D
really good post. I am not a mom yet, however I have been watching kids since I was about 12. For the last 3 years I have watched a group of eight kids (soon to be nine) on a weekly baises, I also watch a group of 20 weekly. The kids range from one to about seven. (I have 2 nine year olds, but have watched them when they were much younger as well)...I have expirenced all of these types of things. It used to bother me, but now it just seems normal. People in my age group (anyone from about 17-21) look at me like I am crazy when I tell them that I will try to catch the vomit, because its easier to clean me than the floor/couch.
I'm not a mother, but I'm the oldest of five. Due to family circumstances, I've played a big part in raising the kids. Occasionally, on the wrong the day, some things can bother me, but for the most part it doesn't phase me. I've cleaned up my share of vomit and baby poop before. It's really not as bad as people think it is.
I've always thought about this. I'm not a mother, but have been around young children all my life. As much as I love babies & can't wait to have them, I have never changed a diaper before and can't bear to clean up vomit. I always assumed as a mother, something kicks in & it doesn't bother you as much because they are your child. At least I certainly hope so!
Oh, definitely! I no longer fear the fluids - or solids - even when flung at me across great distances.
It's funny, though...the first time I mommed I'd change my shirt every time I was blurped on, even if it meant putting down my baby and listening to him shriek while I did so. By the time my second and third came along, I developed a gauge; if it was just a small blurp it could keep for a little while. The silence was far more precious to me. As long as there wasn't a lot of it, both of us were fine.
By the time my two youngest got out of that stage, my clothes all looked as if I lived in a house full of huge, angry birds.
@key19@xanga - LOL - it definitely kicks in, don't worry! You will have no fear!
I'm not a mom yet but I hope I can eventually get over my fear of vomit. I've helped to physically care for disabled adults (change them, bathe them, feed them, etc.) so I figure a kid will be a piece of cake (smaller messes!). I've always had a huge aversion to vomit, though & hopefully that will go away!
my daughter broke me in when she was 3 days old...I picked her up after a feeding, and she projectile vomited (Formula problems) STRAIGHT into my mouth and on my clothes. Since then, NOTHING...And I mean NOTHING..grosses me out :) HAPPY BLOGGING!!! LOL!
I am more relaxed now. Prior to my kids I had a very weak stomach. When my son was younger they didn't bother me. Now that he's 5 the smell of his feces makes me ill, but nothing else really bugs me. Now my younger one doesn't bother me, *we have another on the way* but all of it still bothers Daddy.
@quitstealingmyname@xanga - You'd be amazed at just how much of a mess a kid can make.