The body fluid we don't talk about

Most people having babies realize that there will be bodily fluids involved in little humans, generally of the variety coming out of the diaper area. No one LOVES changing diapers (especially the particularly foul and noxious overflowing feces filled ones that these adorable creatures create,) but I knew there would be pee and poop as a parent. I prepared myself for at least 3 years of incontinence when I birthed each child but what I never really thought about was the snot.

Happy even with a light spray of dripping snot

Unlike the bodily fluids exiting the lower half of the body, there is no protective covering to attempt to neatly collect what comes out of the nose. When your child has the snots, you have no choice but to chase them around incessantly trying to keep the slime off their hands, clothes, furniture, walls and whatever else their germ ridden hands touch.

Even though I'm a nurse, I am NOT a fan of snot or snotty noses. I don't want my kids to be those ones that walk around with a trail of dried snot on their face or be that kid at daycare that always seems to have an upper lip covered in yellow slime when you visit. I'm so thankful that Gremlin has long been old enough to take care of his own nose hygiene. As a kid with allergies and allergy induced asthma, he does occasionally have explosive and disgusting sneezes but as a parent all I really have to do is help him find a tissue and remind him to wash his hands when he's cleaned up.

Little Bit is firmly in disgusting toddler territory and right now we are dealing with an outbreak of gross yellow nose slime. The one positive aspect is that she is aware of when her nose is leaking and she generally comes up to me and says "yuck" and points to her nose then either waits for me to take care of it or simply uses my clothing to just wipe the snot off (yeah, thanks kid).  She is quite compliant with letting me go to town on her face with Boogie Wipes* and will even offer a half-hearted attempt at a blow though she needs a lot more practice to get the force needed to make it effective.

"I do Mommy! I do!"

 Though I appreciate that I don't have to hold her down like a wild animal to wipe her nose as I know some parents are forced to do, I will really be happy when we outgrow this stage and I can go back to not having anyone else's snot on my mind or my clothes.

Gratuitous adorable Little Bit picture

* I have to admit that discovering Boogie Wipes was a game changer as a parent. These seemingly overpriced tissues are soaked in a saline solution and are very gentle even when wiping the most tenacious of boogers. I remember poor Gremlin having a raw, reddened nose and upper lip from frequent wiping, even with lotion infused tissues until we discovered these. For the days of endless snot, they are worth every cent. Jenn approved!!