Pacifiers

I really didn't think that P would ever give up her Pacifier.  She loved it.  It was an emotional thing for her.  We tried several different approaches to finally getting rid of the paci.  We tried limiting it during the day but that just caused lots of drama and heartache.  Finally, we decided that the only way would be to completely take it away.  We talked about it with her before we took the paci.

There was this little princess doll, that cost $5, that we saw in the checkout lane every single time we checked out at Walmart.  P would always play with it while I was checking out.  She always asked if we could get it, and I would say no because that little figurine was not worth $5.  I told P that if she went one whole day and night without her paci, we would go to Walmart and get the princess doll for her.  She agreed to that, so we started the process.  She didn't last long at all.  She begged for her pacifier and I gave it to her.  Our approach this time was to let her be in charge of getting rid of her paci.  It was up to her.  The next day, I decided to go ahead and buy the princess doll.  I thought having the prize in front of her would help.  So, I gave her the doll with the promise that she could only keep the doll if she didn't use her paci.  She could have her paci back, but I would take her princess and she would not get it back.  We would give the Princess to her friend, K.  She did well all morning.  She played and talked to her princess.  Later in the afternoon, she walked over to me and handed me the princess and said she wanted the paci.  I reminded her of the cost of getting her paci back.  She cried for a little while but decided that the princess was more important to her than having the paci.  Then came night time.  I was expecting the worst.  Lots of tears and hours of no sleep.  Surprisingly, she went right to bed with her princess in hand.  She never cried at night over her paci.  I couldn't believe it.  It had to be the grace of God to us.  The next few days, there were tears along the way during the day but it didn't take long until she was completely finished with it.  Now, when she sees a paci, she gives it to Ford.

I write all of this to encourage you mamas who think that your child will leave for college using a pacifier.  I really thought that too but here we are on the other side.  Next, stop....taking Ford's paci.  I definitely want to take his before he gets emotionally attached to his.