fare thee well

R.I.P. MAM pacifiers

9.2007 - 9.2011

Well, it's official. We are paci free. It's a little bittersweet to tell you the truth. A part of her will be changed forever. While I know that I didn't have to wait FOUR years, I also feel confident knowing that a) they provided her comfort and companionship and b) she was ready to part with them. Somehow, the stars aligned and the process was barely a blip on our screen. She amazes me daily.

Not that I think this is a plan that anyone else would follow, it worked for us. 6 months ago, the dentist gently suggested that I enforce a sleeping-only rule with the paci's. Well, it was good in theory, except that the only time she slept was at night, and there were still many transition times that she used them for. Nevertheless, I started planting the seed that when she turned four, it was a good time to say goodbye to the paci's. Sometimes I mentioned that this 'rule' came from the dentist, but I didn't emphasize it. I wanted her to feel empowered, and I also had fear that she would start to hate the dentist. :)

So we had a good 6 months to work the hype. I occasionally mentioned that it might be hard, but that she was learning and mastering other things that were hard, and how I would be right there with her. I was terrified - not gonna lie. She was a tried-and-true paci addict. It got to be the only way to keep her from talking (!!!!) so I was always secretly grateful for 3 minutes of quiet.

On the eve of her 4th birthday, we talked about it, and how I was so excited for her turning four, and how she has so many things to look forward to this this year (riding her bike, learning new letters in school, doing gymnastics & ballet, etc), and how they might be hard, but that I believed in her. I hadn't come up with a 'plan' yet, for how I was going to remove them. She was never thrilled with the idea of a Paci Fairy taking her beloved jewel tones to anyone else. So I just came out and asked her what she wanted to do.

And brilliance of all brilliance - she had what I think is a stroke of genius. She said she wanted to put them on a necklace. A necklace! Right?!?!! How cool is that?!? I knew it would work. I would poke a hole through the tip, and they basically wouldn't work after that. So we did, and she loved it. She helped me string them. It worked.


Now that they were inoperable, we had to get through the nefarious bedtime. The first night actually went rather well. I kept her busy that day on purpose. The only real tough moment was in the car, after dinner, and we had a long drive back from Arlington. She really missed those paci's, really cried out for them, rued the day we had ever put them on a necklace and I felt awful being stuck in the driver's seat while she cried huge crocodile tears. But I held her hand, and we made it through the drive, and that night she went to bed without even mentioning it. I know it's crazy that this is such a big deal to evoke such an elaborate write up, but I am just so proud of her, and even proud of myself for following her lead. I think she genuinely was old enough to appreciate the significance (either that, or I just waited longer than I needed to, ha!)

Anyway, the next two nights were just as painless. During the day, she was so proud to announce to anyone who would listen that she got rid of the paci's. At night we just spent a few more minutes winding down. The Paci Fairy did still come, but she wrote a note instead (an idea I got from Pinterest, natch), and left behind a "Baby Alive" doll.


She still talks ALL. THE. TIME. and I don't have a mute button anymore, but we are very happy to spend a few extra minutes snuggling instead. :)

You go, girl!