BYE-BYE BINKIE

About a month ago I decided that it was time to get rid of the beloved binkie. Around 9 months old this binkie was staying in the bed and was only used at bedtime and naptime. However, a sneaky little 2-year-old I know was getting it out whenever possible. I got tired of the battle so I decided we needed to just be done. I had two binkies left. I cut off the tip of one of them and gave it to Rylee one night before going to bed. She looked at it funny and told me it was broken. I told her that she was a big girl and didn't need it anyway. If she still wanted it she had to have it, but it was broken and wouldn't work right. She asked where the purple one was - it is lost I told her (a little white lie - oops).

After about a week of Rylee taking her broken binkie to bed and chewing on it - you know it doesn't suck the same when it is broken - I cut off some more. This time she had the strangest look on her face. I could see the wheels turning. She told me it was broken. I told her that she was a big girl and didn't need it anyway. Maybe it was time to throw it in the bin. She said to me, "I a big girl! Throw it in the bin!" Sure enough she walked over to the bin and threw away the binkie. We haven't had a trouble since. No tears! No sleepless nights! Nothing!! It is a small big girl miracle.

Every once in a while she asks for her binkie and I tell her that she is a big girl and it is in the bin. She reapeats, "I a big girl! Throw it in the bin!" That is that!! Nothing to it.

Now if only potty training can be so easy! A girl can always hope!