The Politics of Diapers
August 4, 2009
Philip M. from England sends a recent article about parents delaying potty training and schools that must deal with children in diapers. This has been a big issue in nursery schools here for some time.
Philip says:
Margaret Morrissey, of family lobby group ParentsOutloud, said mothers shouldn’t be blamed for the problem. She said, “If we insist that mothers go out to work when their children are still young – out of the house by 7.30am, dropping off a baby at nursery, then the two kids at school, working a full day and getting back at 6pm – things are going to give.”
Laura writes:
How long before you have a prime minister who proudly declares he wears nappies at night?
Philip responds:
If anything, our PM should be wearing them over his head, for much the same purposes. But then again, would it be good for the economy, or is there a chance it may cause ‘diaper-inflation’?
I apologize for the implied English crudity of the above remarks.
Laura writes:
In all seriousness, few topics are more political or controversial than diapers. Careless remarks about delayed potty-training can permanently destroy a person’s reputation. It’s a complicated subject. The invention of paper and plastic diapers has changed everything, making it far less uncomfortable for children to wear wet diapers. Furthermore, training a child takes a level of concentration that does not fit in with the pace of modern living or the anti-authoritarian style of parenting today. We should remain calm and clear-headed. Colleges are not turning away students in diapers. Not yet.
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