It happened, really it did. It's true what they say--he wouldn't go to kindergarten with it. I was pretty sure he would.
I am talking about the pacifier, aka the plug. I wanted to do this entry last week, but I didn't want to jinx myself. However after last night's conversation, he is so proud of himself that he'll never go back, he's so over it.
Our plan was to stop using the pacifier at 1 year. Well year 1 turned into year 2 which turned in to year 3 and you catch my drift. I basically had no hope for 4 and thought maybe by 5.
I've never been a big pusher to stop....most likely because I sucked my thumb until I was 10 (shh.) So in all honesty an pacifier isn't any different than a thumb. However it may not be any different inside, but outside it looks a little ridiculous for a almost 4 year old to be sucking on a pacifier---almost or at the point of getting embarrassing.
The problem is...I felt bad for taking away something that was so much comfort. It's like taking alcoholic beverage away on one of the crappiest, I don't know how I got through the work day. So basically we didn't push it. We mentioned things time to time to him, but never a stopping point. I remember a person I talked with said, "don't worry, he won't go to kindergarten with it, its just a phase that will pass, don't press on the issue," so we didn't.
We have always offered him options, choices...in all honesty kids need those choices. We as adults do better when we aren't told what to do, but asked what we should do.
While spending time with family last weekend, we asked Harrison if he wanted to give his plug to his new baby cousin Joseph because he didn't have a plug and he is a baby and he needs one. At first he was reluctant and said no...but we asked him a couple more times and he seemed more interested in gifting his plug for a BIG new toy.
The decision was made, Harrison gave his plug to baby Joseph. Secretly we swapped the plug after the gift giving just in case he decided he wanted it back (we were 3 hours from home) and didn't want to end up home without the plug---just in case. The transition went smoothly. That night he asked, "Where is my plug." Our reply. "You gave it to baby Joseph, remember?" Not another word for two more days when he talked about Miles plug. I took a chance and asked him, "What happened to your plug?" His response, "I gave it to Joseph, I too big for plug." Then a giant hug followed this. He is so proud of himself. And we never made it to need that BIG toy as a diversion.
He clings closer to his "key, key" and puppy since the transition...and that too in time will change.
We are really proud of him...he's such an amazing kid.
Goodbye plug, you were loved.
I am talking about the pacifier, aka the plug. I wanted to do this entry last week, but I didn't want to jinx myself. However after last night's conversation, he is so proud of himself that he'll never go back, he's so over it.
Our plan was to stop using the pacifier at 1 year. Well year 1 turned into year 2 which turned in to year 3 and you catch my drift. I basically had no hope for 4 and thought maybe by 5.
I've never been a big pusher to stop....most likely because I sucked my thumb until I was 10 (shh.) So in all honesty an pacifier isn't any different than a thumb. However it may not be any different inside, but outside it looks a little ridiculous for a almost 4 year old to be sucking on a pacifier---almost or at the point of getting embarrassing.
The problem is...I felt bad for taking away something that was so much comfort. It's like taking alcoholic beverage away on one of the crappiest, I don't know how I got through the work day. So basically we didn't push it. We mentioned things time to time to him, but never a stopping point. I remember a person I talked with said, "don't worry, he won't go to kindergarten with it, its just a phase that will pass, don't press on the issue," so we didn't.
We have always offered him options, choices...in all honesty kids need those choices. We as adults do better when we aren't told what to do, but asked what we should do.
While spending time with family last weekend, we asked Harrison if he wanted to give his plug to his new baby cousin Joseph because he didn't have a plug and he is a baby and he needs one. At first he was reluctant and said no...but we asked him a couple more times and he seemed more interested in gifting his plug for a BIG new toy.
The decision was made, Harrison gave his plug to baby Joseph. Secretly we swapped the plug after the gift giving just in case he decided he wanted it back (we were 3 hours from home) and didn't want to end up home without the plug---just in case. The transition went smoothly. That night he asked, "Where is my plug." Our reply. "You gave it to baby Joseph, remember?" Not another word for two more days when he talked about Miles plug. I took a chance and asked him, "What happened to your plug?" His response, "I gave it to Joseph, I too big for plug." Then a giant hug followed this. He is so proud of himself. And we never made it to need that BIG toy as a diversion.
He clings closer to his "key, key" and puppy since the transition...and that too in time will change.
We are really proud of him...he's such an amazing kid.
Goodbye plug, you were loved.
