I recently had the pleasure to work with a local customer to select her perfect newborn stash. We looked at covers, fitteds, the loveliest Raspberry Sorbet AppleCheeks cover, and all the other tidbits that round out the cloth diaperer's arsenal. We also talked through laundry routines and other cloth diapering words of wisdom. At the end of our time together, she remarked that this will be a 'labor of love.' This conversation was almost two weeks ago, yet her words still ring through my head.
Labor of Love - work done without pay, undertaken for the benefit of a loved one
Yes, the laundry is the easiest you'll ever do (already sorted, already bagged, just dump & go). Yes, you will always have diapers in the house (no more late-night runs to the over-priced drugstore).
But I think it would be a lie to say that cloth diaperers walk around 24/7 with unicorns at their sides, singing the joys of cloth. I will fully admit that there are moments when I'm putting away diapers, or folding cloth wipes, or realizing I forgot to pack a wetbag, when I have to take a deep breath and remind myself why we choose cloth.
We are keeping chemicals off her bum, diapers out of the landfill, and money in our pocketbooks. We are taking control in a time when so much control is lost. We labor out of love for the best for our child, and that benefit alone is far better than any other remuneration.
love this!
ReplyDeleteWhen people ask me about cloth diapering, I often refer to it as a labor of love. In my opinion, it's more work than disposables, no matter how much people try to say it's less b/c you avoid late night runs to the store for diapers. But, like many choices we make for our children, it's worth it, and it's done out of love.
ReplyDeleteThanks MommaIzzy!
ReplyDeleteChristine - I once had a woman comment, in passing at the local cloth store (before mine opened, of course), that cloth is so much easier than disposables and saves so much time. I wish I could go back in time and ask her more about this. When all is said and done, I don't think either of her statements are true. I love cloth, without a doubt, but I think she might be one that does walk around with her arm around a unicorn.