Sunday, August 24, 2008

Goodbye my num-num...

Goodbye my friend. Or at least Justin's friend. After two wonderful years together, as of yesterday, we have bid adieu to Justin's num-num (pacifier). I don't know what took me so long to get rid of the stupid thing. I think I needed it more than he did/does. I was always so proud of myself for getting my kids off the bottle, cold turkey, the second they turned 1. But the pacifiers have always been my Achilles heel of parenting.

Dylan was 2 1/2 when the pacifier fairy came and took her pacifiers away. That was the end of that for her, she never asked for it again. I knew Justin would be a different story, and I always had an excuse for not taking the thing away. First we moved and then took on a 45 minute commute everyday. Rather than listening to him scream in the car I would plug him up with his num-num. Rather than listening to him scream for 20-30 minutes at bedtime I would just let him have the num-num. And to keep him from waking up in the middle of the night, or early in the morning I let him have his num-num.

See, I needed the num-num more than him. So what suddenly made me change my mind? There is a new little girl in my pre-k class who still uses her pacifier. 4 years old! Asking me for her bi-bi at nap time! I always thought that I would be able to break Justin of his num-num when I was ready. But seeing this 4 year old cry and throw a fit over her bi-bi made me think that it was time for both of us to say goodbye.

So yesterday morning we threw Justin's num-num's in the trash. He watched me throw them all away, and I told him they were going bye-bye in the garbage truck (his favorite things in the world are garbage trucks). That was that. He cried for about 20 minutes at nap time and about 15 at night. Not so bad, and right now he's sleeping without it again. Keep your fingers crossed that it continues to go this smoothly.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good job!! My fingers are crossed for you but it sounds like he (and you) are doing great!! See ya, Num Num!

Homeslice said...

great job jenni! i remember like it was yesterday cutting the tip off lily's "nuk" and her handing it back to me, saying "Broken, mama - nukkie broken!" and that was that. it's been a lot harder for arden - i can't cut her thumb off!!!

Jess said...

That's awesome Jenni! He won't miss it, I found that break my kids from their pacifier was easier than I thought it would be. I had dreaded it for nothing.

Congrats to Justin and to you! <3

Alicia said...

Good luck, Jenni. I know how hard it is to let go; I didn't give mine up till I was over 3 years old.

jae said...

Awww Yay for Justin! I know precisely what you mean... we need those damn pacifiers just as much if not more than they do. I would rather have my sanity and a child with binky than be crazed with a screaming child.

I was really anxious about when to get rid of Nevan's as well and I always made excuses! Finally he came down with hand, foot, and mouth (eww) and couldn't use it because of a blister on his tongue. I seized that golden opportunity and didn't let go! Thank god for infectious diseases.

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