Hi, my name is Kelly and I write about being a dad. Let me tell you 
Manuscript is complete. April is reading it for the first time.
Thursday, January 21st, 2010
Werewolf
Every time our friend Laura comes over, she looks at Teo like he’s a steak dinner. She has an appetite for holding babies, and she’s always so appreciative that we are willing to share him with her, which is just the way April and I want it to be, since in all honesty we would let the mailman hold the baby if he was willing.
April had a great idea the other day. She said, “I know, Laura, you can change Teo’s diaper,” and when Laura’s eyes lit up, April added, “and Kelly can show you how.”
So, while April sat on the couch and watched TV, I supervised Laura at the changing table. I didn’t say much because I thought it would be more entertaining to watch her figure out how to change the diaper by herself. Also, in some twisted way it seemed therapeutic to watch someone else, completely unaware of what was about to happen to her, suffer the same way I’ve suffered changing diapers every day of my son’s life.
See what Laura didn’t know, and what most people would find difficult to believe is that my son Teo is actually a werewolf. As soon as Laura would open that diaper, he would start howling at the moon and pawing at her hands and trying to escape.
That’s not what happened, however. Teo didn’t turn into a werewolf. He stayed a little boy, and he smiled and even giggled at Laura as she changed his diaper. The difference was Laura didn’t treat him like a wild animal like I do. I always feel like a zoo keeper getting in the cage with a wild animal, and my thinking is this: “Teo, this isn’t a pleasant experience for either of us, so let’s get it over with as soon as possible.”
Watching Laura change Teo’s diaper, on the other hand, was like watching someone get a pedicure. She played with his feet, and they chatted, and she gently took off his diaper without him even noticing.
“You did pretty well for a beginner,” I told Laura as she lifted Teo into her arms and we left the room.
Later that day, when it was my turn to change Teo’s diaper, I tried giving our little werewolf a pedicure, and he was all smiles.
MORE ON: dad, newborn, parenting, teo
8 COMMENTS
Great post, Kelly. I LOVE your first paragraph — topnotch writer you are!
January 21, 2010 at 7:14 pm
I still find it strange that I never changed a diaper (or held a baby, for that matter) before I changed my son's.
January 21, 2010 at 7:45 pm
Hi Kelly,
I love reading about little Teo. Three weeks ago I gave birth to my own little werewolf, Flyn, so I know what you mean about the diaper change. My little man hates to get changed, in or out of his clothes or diaper. And, just like you, I don't have the patience to do it gently (kind a hard when you change him a zillion times a day).
Kelly,
Totally relating here. I think 2 wk old Eliot might be a werewolf too. You described him to a T. Guess I'll have to give Laura's trick a try:) Here I was thinking he didn't like to be undressed or cold, or put down for changing…
That picture is great.
The second or third time I changed my daughters diaper she peed on me and the wall. I was amazed girls could actually do that.
January 25, 2010 at 5:54 am
hi kelly,
i know this is awfully late, but congrats to you and april! teo is beautiful. and yeah, i want to eat him up too 
What a great picture! Thanks for sharing!
February 2, 2010 at 7:24 pmLEAVE YOUR COMMENT
Dan said...
hehe.
For some reason I never really minded changing nappies. it's bedtime that I struggle with.
January 21, 2010 at 4:20 pm