“We think you need to shave.”

“But mom, I don’t have any stubble, yet. Aren’t I a few years away from that still?”

“No, no, you misunderstood me. We need you to shave the area that is covered by your diap…your underwear.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Your pubic area needs to have no hair. It will be easier to keep you clean.”

“How would I do that?”

Joan realized that she would have to assist her son in this process and was not amused.

“Ok. Fine. Get in the shower and get yourself wet. Use some of the soap and clean your diaper area, but don’t rinse. I will help you from there.”

“Ok mommy.” Bobby said with youthful exuberance, and he jumped in the shower.

After a few moments he yelled, “Ready.”

Needless to say, Joan was not comfortable with what she had to do, but as she opened the curtain to the shower, she saw her 17 year-old son, wet and soapy, as the very small vulnerable boy that he was.

He looked up at her and looked in to her eyes, “Thank you for helping me mommy.”

Joan melted. She kissed him on the forehead. “Your welcome my little sweet baby.”

Shaving was easy, considering how underdeveloped he was. When she was done, there was very little distinguishing the diminutive, hairless teenager from a toddler half his age.

She closed the curtain and said, “Finish up sweetie. I will get ready for when you get out.”

“Ok mommy,” Bobby said gurgling a mouthful of water at the same time.

While he was in the shower, Joan prepared the changing area. She laid out the changing pad and grabbed one of the thick nighttime diapers. The powder was placed within reach as were the wipes, just in case. The last thing was the pacifier.

She heard the shower shut off. “Come in hear when you get yourself dried off, ok?”

There was a pause, then a timid “Ok.”

Bobby entered the bedroom wrapped in a towel. He found it difficult to make eye contact with his mother.

“Are you ok, honey?” She asked.

“Yes,” he looked concerned. “Are you sure you want to do this, mom? It’s ok if auntie does it.”

“Baby, I’m your mother. I know I have been worried about all of this, and I know you feel you needed to keep it from me. No more. I need to be a part of your life. If all of this is a part of you, then I need to accept it. I love you more than everything. You being happy is the most important thing to me.”

Bobby looked into his mother’s eyes and ran to give her a big hug. “Let’s get you ready and go and watch a movie.”

Bobby laid down on the changing pad.

“Do you want your paci while mommy changes you?”

“Yes, please.”

She placed the pacifier in his mouth and he began to suck on it contently. She then grabbed the baby lotion and made sure that she applied it to all of the necessary areas. The baby powder was next. The smell of the lotion and powder brought her back to when Bobby was a baby and she was happily married to his father. A smile began to grow over her face.

She turned to retrieve the thick nighttime diaper. Even though she hadn’t done this in years, the whole process felt natural. She gently lifted Bobby’s legs and he helped by lifting his bum. She placed the diaper under him and gestured for him to lower on to it. After some positioning, she pulled the diaper between his legs and began to fasten it tightly.

“We don’t want any leaks, do we?”

Bobby removed the pacifier and said, “No, mommy.” He blushed visibly.