There. I said it.
None of my other boys had any interest in pacifiers--believe me, I TRIED to get them to use one when they would wake up every hour and a half all night long unable to go back to sleep unless I nursed them.
But baby J took to his binky right away.
I thought we'd try and get rid of it when he was three, but by then we were smack in the middle of potty training and I didn't want to have to ask more of him than I already was. Then three and a half rolled around and I thought "now?". But by then he was only using it for nap time, bed time, and the occasional long car ride, and showing interest in giving it up himself. So I kept waiting. He turned four in May and I knew it was time to give up binky...maybe.
You see, J is very...VERY!!! Everything is just so **dramatic** for him. He feels deeply times a hundred. Even simple decisions can, sometimes, turn into major tantrums for the little guy. He is strong willed, opinionated, and tenacious as all get up. So, during those times when I could tell he felt miserably out of control and he'd ask in his sweet little voice: "Please can I have binky?" I'd usually give in. And he'd put it in his mouth, take an audibly deep breath, and calm down. How could I take that away from him?
Yet I know we live in a society that encourages and rewards independence, and that sending him off to kindergarten (or senior prom) with a binky was not going to be an option. So, today we sent our beloved binky up to the binky fairy.....
Can you see it tied to the bunch of balloons? I told J that if we let the binky ride up on the balloons to the binky fairy's castle, she would take it, and in the morning she would leave him a fabulous present for being so brave.
He was cool with that.
We counted to three and.......
There was the perfect mix of amusement and "Uh-0h. What did I just do?" on his face....
But there was no turning back now....
I gave him a big hug and told him I was proud of him. Change is hard for everyone. Little guys and their mom's alike. As we were walking back into the house, I noticed the leaves on the neighbor's tree starting to change color...
What a perfect lesson that moment taught me: Change is inevitable. Scary. Paralyzing, at times. But it can also be ... beautiful.
Good Job Little J! I think the Binky Fairy is going to leave you a perfect present, indeed :)
6 comments:
O I HEAR that! You go little guy!
Our youngest is the same age and she still sucks her finger to go to sleep....how do I send THAT to a fairy? Gah!
I've hesitated to order the 'finger guard' and go drastic since we are waiting to move in November....but MAN, do I feel your pain....she is SO dramatic!
Nice work, I'll think up a good bribe and see how that works...
Blessings on all the change....I can hear you sighing over the leaves....and it makes my heart sigh with you....
Happy Birthday J!!!
All kids have 'something'. I was pretty sure my oldest would be taking an 8 oz. bottle in her lunch pail to school...
Awwww- what a brilliant plan to get him to send off the binky. I always wished my kids would take one, but then again I dodged having to wean them off of it. I love the expression on his face in the picture after he sent it off. He's adorable.
My Grayson loves his binky too...like a lot. Only uses it at naptime, bedtime, and car rides as well. Sometimes when he's feeling extra sad or lethargic as well. I've tried talking about the binky fairy with him, but he is so offended by that idea! (:
I'm glad J did so well...keep us posted-I may have to reference this in a year and a half! (:
what a wonderful story!! I love the idea of Binky Fairies!
When my daughter was 3.5, we wrapped her binky in pink tissue and put it in a box. I think the story was that now that she was a big girl, it was time to pass her binky on to a little baby who really needed it.
Worked like a charm!
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