Quick Wit and Wet Bags: Mama's Best Friends!

My oldest daughter, Aaliyah, has officially started kindergarten this year. Honestly, I’m AMAZED at how far the kindergarten education has come. I quite fondly remember simply learning letters, numbers, the fundamentals of writing, and of course story time and play time! Although we homeschool, the program we use has a very progressive curriculum. Now kindergartners are expected to learn the continents (history), all about the skeleton and inner body parts (science), money (math), artists such as Matisse and Hiroshige, along with reading fundamentals and language arts (phonics and reading) and SO much more!

A couple weeks ago we met with Aaliyah’s “teacher” who simply checks our progress and assures we’re meeting our goals, etc... We were only at the library for approximately an hour and were just about to wrap up our meeting. Aaliyah walks over and whispers the dreaded, “Mama I went pee-pee in my pants.”

UGH! Seriously? She never once asked to go potty or even indicate in the slightest that she had the need to go. Now, in the middle of the library, she’s protesting as I prevent her from removing her pants in front of everyone.

“Just WAIT a moment and I will take you to the bathroom.”

“NO Mama! My pants are wet. I HAVE to take them OFF!”

“PLEASE WAIT just a minute!”

Several whines and protest filled moments later, we’re off to the bathroom. Now, what in the world am I supposed to do?!? I had no extra clothes or panties for her (nor would I have imagined needing them for a nearly 5 year old). The fact she was willing to strip off her pants in the middle of the library without hesitation was clue enough there was NO way I’d be able to persuade her to keep the pants on until we made it to the car.

Thankfully, I had my handy dandy Planet Wise wet/dry bag in my diaper bag. So, at least I had one problem solved - something to cart her soaked jeans and panties home in! HOORAY for wet bags!

Yet, I was still baffled with what to do with my half naked daughter? Dare I let her walk out of the library with her bum (and other parts) exposed to everyone? I was tempted - but I couldn’t embarrass the both of us like that! If only she wasn’t so big - I would have forced her into the lonely bumGenius Organic All-in-One One Size diaper I had in the diaper bag!


Thankfully my quick wit has always served me well. I’ve been known to make some very clever and useful makeshift arrangements when needed... I crafted a fire extinguisher mount out of a wooden CD crate because the fire department was about to issue a fine to my employer since they failed to “mount” the fire extinguisher. Surely I could find something. AHA! Toilet seat covers and toilet paper! Minutes later Aaliyah was sporting a new skirt and belt!

Not my greatest accomplishment mind you, but I was certainly proud of my handy work!
I wholeheartedly appreciate my cloth diaper accessories, such as the indispensable wet bag - how did I ever live without having one of these always on hand?