Lesson learned in child care

Tuesday, April 4, 2006, 8:45 p.m.

By Terry R. Cassreino

NANCHANG, China - A parent's first lesson in child care: Just because a diaper is dry doesn't mean the baby is finished.
We found that out after we returned Tuesday from a hike in downtown Nanchang and a long visit to Wal-Mart (yes, Pam still reads product labels even though they are in Chinese).
After a brief so-so lunch in our hotel restaurant, we returned to the room. Pam was changing Camryn on the king-size bed and noticed her diaper was dry.
“Oh, look, she didn’t even use the diaper,” Pam said just before she shrieked “Oh no, she’s wet the bed. Man, she really had to go.”
A good bit of the side on which I sleep was soaked. Once again, we probably scared the heck out of Camryn and caused it to happen.
Camryn took it in stride: She cried.
Actually, she cried off and on throughout the day - especially when Pam left her sight. Hey, think about it: Who’d want to be stuck with me?
As for the bed, or, rather, my side of the bed, the hotel staff cleaned the bedroom and replaced the bedding. So I’ll get to sleep dry.

Chinese water

Another interesting tidbit from China.
The country has two types of water: Water for drinking and water for flushing. That’s why it isn’t safe to drink tap water here unless you want to spend your trip in the bathroom.
You shouldn’t even use tap water to brush your teeth. Instead, you should use bottled water for just about everything (except flushing and bathing).
In fact, Holt International Children’s Services has provided us and other families here at the Gloria Plaza Hotel in Nanchang with a case of bottled water for drinking (and brushing teeth).

Rough time

Some of the other Holt families are having a rough time with their babies.
At least one couple was up all night Monday with their daughter, who may have been going through the pain of teething. They looked fine, but worn out, at Tuesday lunch.
The most common problem is slow development. These kids obviously had little personal attention and, consequently, are behind American children at the same age.
Some aren’t sitting up straight by themselves, others seem indifferent to human contact, holding and hugging. Camryn just seems overwhelmed by everything thrown her way.

New gum

While at Wal-Mart today, I picked up a new product: coffee flavored Wrigley chewing gum.
The gum was pretty potent and tasted exactly like a cappuccino. So if I ever wanted a drink of coffee at work, all I’d have to do is unwrap a stick of gum and chew away.

Copyright 2006 by Terry R. Cassreino.