OVER the past 18 months, wearing face masks has become an everyday part of life.
But while their primary purpose has obviously been to help curb the spread of coronavirus, one new mum has revealed how she relies on them for something else entirely.
Sharing her dilemma on Reddit, the woman explained how she can't change her baby's nappy unless she's wearing a mask and gloves.
She wrote: "I've always been really really squeamish and sensitive to bad smells.
"My wife knows, I even fainted briefly while she was giving birth."
Explaining how they split the childcare 50/50, the woman said she's come up with a special system to cope with dirty nappies.
She continued: "If it's my turn for the change, I have a get-up that helps me get through it.
"I wear disposable gloves, a mask and put a minty-smelling salve underneath my nose before I get started."
What's more, the mum even keeps her whole nappy changing kit in the baby bag in case she needs to get on her gloves and mask when they're out.
But unsurprisingly, it's started getting on her partner's nerves.
If it's my turn for the change, I have a get-up that helps me get through it. I wear disposable gloves, a mask and put a minty-smelling salve underneath my nose before I get started.
She added: "My wife has become more and more insistent that I 'get over it' and 'grow up' because in her mind, I am not bonding with our daughter.
"When she changes her, she likes to linger and talk sweetly to her and caress her – I don't because I find it very difficult to get through already.
"But I love spending time with my daughter otherwise – I hold her and read to her and play with her a lot."
However, it all came to a head when the woman's mum came to visit and accused her of acting like a "toxic man".
"[My mum said] she was ashamed of how I was acting," the new mum added. "My [mother-in-law] was more sympathetic but said that I'd get used to it and that exposure therapy was the best thing to 'help'."
Turning to Reddit's "Am I The A*****" forum, the woman asked other members if they thought she was overreacting.
Insisting that she wasn't the "a******" in this situation, one replied: "God forbid that a loving parent NOT like the smell of fresh s***."
Another added: "I have 6 kids and love them to pieces. If I had the time, I'd probably suit up in a full hazmat suit before changing a diaper."
"I think you need to realize that parenting entails discomfort in many respects, and this is the least of them," a third said. "If you're having trouble enduring diaper changes, you're in for a heck of a ride."
For more parenting stories, this savvy mum shared easy tips for getting entire food shops reduced – from 20p pizzas to £1 birthday cakes.
And this mum was slammed for ‘unrealistic’ sleep training routine for NEWBORN baby.
Plus this busy mum-of-six showed the massive laundry pile she’s faced with every day and it COVERS her bedroom.
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