Bye-Bye Binky

Leah said goodbye to her pacifier on Saturday. It was certainly time to say goodbye but still, I am a little sad. Not because Leah needs a pacifier but because I finally had to admit to myself that she's too old for it. Darn.

Leah having one last go with her binkies before putting them in the binky box to give to babies who really need them.

The first few naptimes/bedtimes went fairly smoothly. Leah would ask for her binky, then nod submissively when I'd remind her that we'd said bye-bye to the binky. She went to sleep with no problem.

Last night I think she finally realized that her binky is gone forever. "My binky?" She asked hopefully as I settled her down for bed. "No," I said, "We said bye-bye binky, remember?" And she cried a low,sad, heartbroken cry from deep inside that shook her whole body. I rocked her and told her that it's okay to be sad. She put her head on my shoulder, her little arms clinging to my neck, and had a good cry.

I felt like a bad mother. She didn't really like the binky as a newborn but I forced her to take it. Now, after she's fallen in love with it I take it away. Boo.

But it is done. And I think Leah has finished mourning her lost binky. Today she didn't even mention it. She was too busy playing with the toy she chose at the store for being such a big girl.

So, bye-bye binky. Thank you for saving my sanity with a newborn and for being such a good friend to my toddler. I think she still loves me.