I Threw Away the Diaper Pail

By Sarah McDonald

For over 10 years it has been a fixture in the house – the diaper pail. The often dreaded but much appreciated vessel had been in use for a decade. This week, it rode off into the sunset (almost quite literally) on the back of a garbage truck.

In the most recent deep clean of my daughters’ room, the diaper pail got thrown away. I did it, I grabbed it out of the room and brought it straight to the curb.

For the past several months since “Happy Face” potty-trained it had served as a garbage can any way. It was time to say goodbye and with that goodbye an official hello to a new stage of family life.

I know everyone tells you to relish the early years and I do, I have, but those who tell you to relish the days might often forget how hard they really are. Newborn to infant to toddler and all that comes with it is hard, and we’ve been at it for 10 years, the 10 best years of my life so far.

I am really loving the new stage of family life. This new stage brings new challenges and difficulties, but also new joys and experiences. I love that my children talk to me about their problems and feel comfortable doing so. I love getting to experience their new firsts and the excitement that it brings.

I love watching them achieve milestones and am so glad that I can still comfort them in their sorrows. I love that with each of my children I am developing a unique relationship. Watching my children interact and grow in their individual relationships is a blessing, and no diaper changes is an added bonus.

God intends for us all to grow and to find hope and joy in each stage of life. I know very well the joy and love of baby cuddles, but hugs from the big kids are pretty amazing too. Someday, I am sure I will wish there was more time, but right now, I am relishing the time we have in the stage we are in because this is God’s plan for us.