I think that every man tries to delay the inevitable day when he has to change a diaper for the first time. If I can give one word of advice to every guy out there… Don’t wait too long.

When we were in the hospital, my wife would change Babs’ diaper as often as she could. That was okay with me. When Lucy wasn’t there, the nurses would ask me if I wanted to change it, and I would say, “Thank you, but I want my wife to be here the first time I change a diaper.” They thought that was sweet. I just wasn’t ready.

One day, my daughter had clearly caused some damage, and I was trying to hold off until my wife or a nurse came back. I waited too long, and it leaked all over the floor, and onto my beloved Gap long sleeved, white button down shirt with blue stripes (see attached photo).

Lucy arrived just then to change the diaper, and I rushed to he hospital bathroom to salvage the shirt. This shirt had been with me through college, my cross-country move, countless television shows I’ve worked on, into my marriage, and now fatherhood. This couldn’t be the end. After twenty minutes of blotting and soaking, it was over. I said goodbye to my Gap long sleeved, white button down shirt with blue stripes. Every guy out there has one of these shirts, and it was a sad farewell.

Could this have been avoided? Absolutely.

I have since learned how to change a diaper, and its not big deal at all. Yeah, there is the shock value when you open up the soiled one, but it’s pretty straightforward from there. I shouldn’t have been so hesitant. Heck, I’ve been picking up my dog’s poop for two years, and I didn’t even help to create him.

I lost my shirt, while learning this important lesson. I change over five diapers a day now, but I still miss that shirt. If you have any fond memories/photos of that shirt, please send them my way.