My first diaper purchase
I had been allowed to grow my hair, I had always hated short hair. My favorite pair of shorts was already by far my dark glossy green leather shorts, but they were too tight and made my diapers too noticeable.
We are in 1966 at the beginning of July, the summer vacations have started, I turned 13 in May. I had thought with an annual average for my school results of over 12 out of 20 which was an extraordinary feat for me that I had done well. But they have obviously not met my parent’s expectations and it has been decided that I should stay the whole month of July alone with my maternal grandparents. We live with them, occupying the 1400 sq ft top floor of their large house. The university student son of some of my parents numerous friends would give me math and French private tuition, four mornings a week. I am totally free to move, often going to play with my friends, cycling to the forest, going to the movie theater. The house is big and empty except for my grandparents who live on the ground floor (1st US floor).
We are in 1966 at the beginning of July, the summer vacations have started, I turned 13 in May. I had thought with an annual average for my school results of over 12 out of 20 which was an extraordinary feat for me that I had done well. But they have obviously not met my parent’s expectations and it has been decided that I should stay the whole month of July alone with my maternal grandparents. We live with them, occupying the 1400 sq ft top floor of their large house. The university student son of some of my parents numerous friends would give me math and French private tuition, four mornings a week. I am totally free to move, often going to play with my friends, cycling to the forest, going to the movie theater. The house is big and empty except for my grandparents who live on the ground floor (1st US floor).
My diaper needs have not gone away, to the contrary, they regularly strikes back, stronger and stronger at the onset of puberty.
My diaper needs have not gone away, to the contrary, they regularly strikes back, stronger and stronger at the onset of puberty.
I no longer remember how I came up with the idea of buying waterproof pants for myself or how I knew I could find some in the next town’s pharmacy. Maybe I had seen some displayed in the front window when passing by to catch the train on the way to middle school. The fact remains that on one hot afternoon I break my piggy bank full of of 5, 10, 20 and fifty cents coins representing more than a year’s savings. I then receive a franc per week. This represents a purchasing power of twenty carambars (thin wrapped caramel bars) or ten winning mistral (small paper bags full of a kind of flavored icing sugar, under the folded top of the paper bag was printed the words “lost” or “winning”, winning gave you a free one) , or even a Suchard dark chocolate bar with a half baguette, my economic benchmarks of the time, benchmarks that are about to change today.
I no longer remember how I came up with the idea of buying waterproof pants for myself or how I knew I could find some in the next town’s pharmacy. Maybe I had seen some displayed in the front window when passing by to catch the train on the way to middle school. The fact remains that on one hot afternoon I break my piggy bank full of of 5, 10, 20 and fifty cents coins representing more than a year’s savings. I then receive a franc per week. This represents a purchasing power of twenty carambars (thin wrapped caramel bars) or ten winning mistral (small paper bags full of a kind of flavored icing sugar, under the folded top of the paper bag was printed the words “lost” or “winning”, winning gave you a free one) , or even a Suchard dark chocolate bar with a half baguette, my economic benchmarks of the time, benchmarks that are about to change today.
Money tend to burn my shorts’ pockets and not stay there long, so it's a miracle to be able to count more than fifteen Francs. My leather shorts’ pockets, heavy and full of coins I jump on my bicycle and rush to the pharmacy next the railroad station.
Money tend to burn my shorts’ pockets and not stay there long, so it's a miracle to be able to count more than fifteen Francs. My leather shorts’ pockets, heavy and full of coins I jump on my bicycle and rush to the pharmacy next the railroad station.
Memories of these moments remained engraved in my brain like a slow-motion movie. I was rather shy and reserved with a tendency to blush easily. I would not have been out of place in a poppy field when, after having let several customers go past in front of me "Isn’t this cute kid courteous! », I ask the pharmacist without breathing and reciting the tirade that I have repeated many times in my head during the last fifteen minutes:
Memories of these moments remained engraved in my brain like a slow-motion movie. I was rather shy and reserved with a tendency to blush easily. I would not have been out of place in a poppy field when, after having let several customers go past in front of me "Isn’t this cute kid courteous! », I ask the pharmacist without breathing and reciting the tirade that I have repeated many times in my head during the last fifteen minutes:
"Iwouldlikeapairofwaterproofpantformylittlebrother"
"Iwouldlikeapairofwaterproofpantformylittlebrother"
............. !!!!!!! silence, taken aback, time, no doubt, for this long word to be dissected and transformed into something understandable.
............. !!!!!!! silence, taken aback, time, no doubt, for this long word to be dissected and transformed into something understandable.
"How big is your brother?"
"How big is your brother?"
What a tricky question, my already red face turns deep red.
What a tricky question, my already red face turns deep red.
"Heuuuu …… he is twelve years old",
"Heuuuu …… he is twelve years old",
"Really? I didn't know you had a twelve-year-old brother, I thought he was five and moreover now dry day and night!"
"Really? I didn't know you had a twelve-year-old brother, I thought he was five and moreover now dry day and night!"
What a monumental mistake I made when I went to the pharmacy often visited by my family!
What a monumental mistake I made when I went to the pharmacy often visited by my family!
"Humpffff …… heuuuuu …… if M'mam told me to buy panties size twelve"
"Humpffff …… heuuuuu …… if M'mam told me to buy panties size twelve"
I no longer know where to put myself and I have the impression, no doubt correct, of being the center of attention of all the customers and staff of our small town’s venerable institution.
I no longer know where to put myself and I have the impression, no doubt correct, of being the center of attention of all the customers and staff of our small town’s venerable institution.
"So,….. one size smaller than you?" "
"So,….. one size smaller than you?" "
"Yyyes, errrrrr, nnno almost like me"
"Yyyes, errrrrr, nnno almost like me"
I dig myself deeper into contradiction, my right hand nervously and noisily shaking the coins in my pocket without me noticing it.
I dig myself deeper into contradiction, my right hand nervously and noisily shaking the coins in my pocket without me noticing it.
"Good," she said, opening a drawer behind her. This one reveals a content which for is me is a treasure cave. She pulls out a pair of white satin plastic pull up pants,
"Good," she said, opening a drawer behind her. This one reveals a content which for is me is a treasure cave. She pulls out a pair of white satin plastic pull up pants,
"This one should fit your little brother if the explanations you gave me are correct"
"This one should fit your little brother if the explanations you gave me are correct"
She opens it and spreads it out in front of me in plain view of all, but I no longer pay attention, my eyes are fixed on the pants, my plastic pants, while a marvelous lanolin perfume spreads around the room, which will remain from then on, for me, my whole life associated with waterproof pants and diapers.
She opens it and spreads it out in front of me in plain view of all, but I no longer pay attention, my eyes are fixed on the pants, my plastic pants, while a marvelous lanolin perfume spreads around the room, which will remain from then on, for me, my whole life associated with waterproof pants and diapers.
"Ouuuuui, yyyes I think" I say in a semi trance.
"Ouuuuui, yyyes I think" I say in a semi trance.
Then, all of a sudden, panicked, because until now it had never crossed my mind that my fortune, which would allow me to buy three hundred carambars, might not be enough to buy plastic pants.
Then, all of a sudden, panicked, because until now it had never crossed my mind that my fortune, which would allow me to buy three hundred carambars, might not be enough to buy plastic pants.
"H hhh ow…mmmuch is it! "
"H hhh ow…mmmuch is it! "
"Twelve francs thirty five" my young man!
"Twelve francs thirty five" my young man!
Phew, I am saved! And without thinking I pull hands full of yellow coins from my pockets and drop them on the counter.
Phew, I am saved! And without thinking I pull hands full of yellow coins from my pockets and drop them on the counter.
"Well well! She wants to get rid of the contents of her piggybank your mom!" "
"Well well! She wants to get rid of the contents of her piggybank your mom!" "
Awkwardly and without saying a word, but still as red as ever, I try to start counting the pieces.
Awkwardly and without saying a word, but still as red as ever, I try to start counting the pieces.
" Let me do it!" "Here, twelve francs thirty-five, you can take the rest"
" Let me do it!" "Here, twelve francs thirty-five, you can take the rest"
She then hands me the brown paper bag in which she slipped the plastic pants after having folded it.
She then hands me the brown paper bag in which she slipped the plastic pants after having folded it.
"Thhhhank yyyou M'dam" and practically tearing the bag from her hands I rush out literally shaking at the thought of now being the proud owner of my own pair of waterproof pants, soooo impatient to touch them and smell their wonderful fragrance.
"Thhhhank yyyou M'dam" and practically tearing the bag from her hands I rush out literally shaking at the thought of now being the proud owner of my own pair of waterproof pants, soooo impatient to touch them and smell their wonderful fragrance.
However, I don't dare do it on the street. Having put the bag in one of my bicycle’s saddle bags, I almost run to the Prisunic next door to buy a roll of baby diapers cellulose padding. "Youppiii, two francs fifty, I just have enough to buy one" I say to myself, taking one.
However, I don't dare do it on the street. Having put the bag in one of my bicycle’s saddle bags, I almost run to the Prisunic next door to buy a roll of baby diapers cellulose padding. "Youppiii, two francs fifty, I just have enough to buy one" I say to myself, taking one.
But back home, what a disappointment, the pants are too small for me. Quite logical if I think about it after my clownish behavior at the pharmacy, trying unsuccessfully to pretend it was for a little brother who doesn't exist.
But back home, what a disappointment, the pants are too small for me. Quite logical if I think about it after my clownish behavior at the pharmacy, trying unsuccessfully to pretend it was for a little brother who doesn't exist.
I have no other option, if I want to be able to put my diaper on, but to go back and change it. Not for a moment did I think that if it had been for my little brother it was only in the evening that we could have realized that the pants are too small. Less than an hour after rushing out of the pharmacy I'm back there.
I have no other option, if I want to be able to put my diaper on, but to go back and change it. Not for a moment did I think that if it had been for my little brother it was only in the evening that we could have realized that the pants are too small. Less than an hour after rushing out of the pharmacy I'm back there.
"There is something wrong!" It is not even a question, put very loudly for all to hear, in the mouth of the pharmacist but rather an affirmation.
"There is something wrong!" It is not even a question, put very loudly for all to hear, in the mouth of the pharmacist but rather an affirmation.
"Itt itt isss…. Tttt too smsmmmall," I said in a small shy voice, my shaking hand handing her the bag with the pants in.
"Itt itt isss…. Tttt too smsmmmall," I said in a small shy voice, my shaking hand handing her the bag with the pants in.
"I knew they would be. This size will fit you with some margin for growth!" she says, still in a very loud voice, bringing our of her treasure cove a new pair two sizes larger in plain view of all in the shop.
"I knew they would be. This size will fit you with some margin for growth!" she says, still in a very loud voice, bringing our of her treasure cove a new pair two sizes larger in plain view of all in the shop.
I am fully overwhelmed with shame, my entire face up to my ears turns poppy red again, but I finally have my pair of waterproof pants that will fit me for some time.
I am fully overwhelmed with shame, my entire face up to my ears turns poppy red again, but I finally have my pair of waterproof pants that will fit me for some time.
"Th th..ank yyyy ou vry much," I said, practically running out.
"Th th..ank yyyy ou vry much," I said, practically running out.
My heart is thumping very hard, I am sooooo happy, I have MY OWN plastic pants, they are for ME, to put over MY diapers.
My heart is thumping very hard, I am sooooo happy, I have MY OWN plastic pants, they are for ME, to put over MY diapers.
I must have beaten all the speed and carelessness records of to cover the kilometer that separates me from home and here I am in my room with my bicycle bag in my hand so that my grandmother could not see what I have bought.
I must have beaten all the speed and carelessness records of to cover the kilometer that separates me from home and here I am in my room with my bicycle bag in my hand so that my grandmother could not see what I have bought.
After rummaging in the rag’s cupboard for a square of old big enough cloth and in the sewing drawer to take safety pins there I feverishly prepare "MY" first own Diaper for me by cutting two layers of cellulose wool from the roll.
After rummaging in the rag’s cupboard for a square of old big enough cloth and in the sewing drawer to take safety pins there I feverishly prepare "MY" first own Diaper for me by cutting two layers of cellulose wool from the roll.
Naked, I lie down on this so welcoming diaper then pull it between my legs and over the front. It takes several trials to cover my excitation and secure tightly and snugly the safety pins on each side. Finally I can put my legs into "my beautiful baby panties that smell so good" and pull them over MY diaper.
Naked, I lie down on this so welcoming diaper then pull it between my legs and over the front. It takes several trials to cover my excitation and secure tightly and snugly the safety pins on each side. Finally I can put my legs into "my beautiful baby panties that smell so good" and pull them over MY diaper.
My hands stroke this brand new, so soft and rustly plastic that surrounds my lower abdomen, what a wonderful bulky feeling, what comfort and security. I cannot resist admiring myself in the mirror, what a great sight.
My hands stroke this brand new, so soft and rustly plastic that surrounds my lower abdomen, what a wonderful bulky feeling, what comfort and security. I cannot resist admiring myself in the mirror, what a great sight.
I suddenly hear my Grandmother calling me:
I suddenly hear my Grandmother calling me:
"Yoh Oh sweety, are you there?" It's afternoon snack time "
"Yoh Oh sweety, are you there?" It's afternoon snack time "
"Yes Grandmother, I'm coming"
"Yes Grandmother, I'm coming"
My leather pants are a bit tight and shows too much my padded front and bottom, but I quickly put on my navy corduroy scout shorts bought last September, for my going up from the Cub Scouts to the Boy Scouts, they are very big having been bought to fit for at least three years which makes my diaper far less obvious.
My leather pants are a bit tight and shows too much my padded front and bottom, but I quickly put on my navy corduroy scout shorts bought last September, for my going up from the Cub Scouts to the Boy Scouts, they are very big having been bought to fit for at least three years which makes my diaper far less obvious.
It was this first day, still etched deeply in my memory so many years later, that allowed me to rediscover for good the diapers that I had missed for so long. I not only soaked my first diaper but also made a poo in it, another wonderful feeling, until I had to clean myself and get rid of the soiled padding.
It was this first day, still etched deeply in my memory so many years later, that allowed me to rediscover for good the diapers that I had missed for so long. I not only soaked my first diaper but also made a poo in it, another wonderful feeling, until I had to clean myself and get rid of the soiled padding.
I changed it before going to bed and had my first baby night in over eleven years.
I changed it before going to bed and had my first baby night in over eleven years.
My Grandparents were very generous during this month, taking pity on my being left behind by my parents. I received enough money each week to buy several rolls of baby cellulose padding. I wore diapers almost all the time, day and night. The only real problem was to get rid of the soiled padding. I washed the pants and cloths every day. I was in the end so grateful for my parents having left me behind.
My Grandparents were very generous during this month, taking pity on my being left behind by my parents. I received enough money each week to buy several rolls of baby cellulose padding. I wore diapers almost all the time, day and night. The only real problem was to get rid of the soiled padding. I washed the pants and cloths every day. I was in the end so grateful for my parents having left me behind.
My first pair of plastic pants
Roll of cellulose padding for babies in the 1960's
Roll of cellulose padding for babies in the 1960's