This week we said goodbye to the dummy. Monday, I think it was. Or maybe it was Tuesday. Either way, we're a few days into having a dummy-free toddler.
My daughter always surprises me with her resilience and understanding lately. I mean, we have our moments, but I think she's been ready to give up the dummy for awhile but I wasn't necessarily ready. All right, I'll admit it, I was just plain old scared!
So Monday, or Tuesday or whenever it was, I asked Audrey to "Come here for a chat, please". She looked at me warily and slowly walked over. "It's time to say goodbye to our dummies now."
Tiny innocent little worried face.
"You're a big girl now! Is Audrey a baby?"
"No.. Audah no baby."
"That's right, sweetheart! Audrey is a BIG GIRL! And big girls don't have dummies. Only babies have dummies!"
Instant tears and sadness. World falling apart crisis. etc.
"It's okay sweetheart. Let's go over to the bin. Come on, Lovey."
She walks over slowly. Reluctantly. Sadly.
I held up the dummy and said, "It's time to say goodbye to our dummy now. Can you put it in the bin please? Say, 'Bye-Bye Dummy!'"
And this is the part that kills me. Her little lip stuck out quivering as she looked at her dummy sadly, fondly, lovingly, thoughtfully and she decided whether or not to obey. She LOVED her dummy and I could see her struggling with the choice. She took it from my hand and walked over to the bin, opened the lid, and put it in. Then she ran and gave me a cuddle.
I AM SO PROUD OF HER!
We celebrated her achievement with lots of songs, cuddles, and a few lollies ;) We've had a few rough moments around nap times and bedtimes, but overall she has blown me away with her ability to adapt and change to her new normal. Whenever she cries and asks for her dummy she promptly reminds me, "Audah no bebe. Audah big. Dummy bin... Bye bye, Dummy." And then she cries a little more. But she GETS IT. And I am so proud of my girl who is growing up. I'm so proud of my baby who decided to obey even when it was difficult for her. I love her lots, you see.
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