The Pacifier

Where do I start? Where do i start..... This last week has been especially long for us. After 8 painful days (and I do mean painful) we are pacifier free and lived to tell to tell the tale. Only a parent who has lived with a pacifier addict can relate to the sense of relief I feel making it to day eight days of "sobriety." There were sooooooooo many moments I almost broke. Almost. Several moments where I considered taking up the pacifier to calm MY own nerves and frustrations. It all began on a Friday morning. Wiggy had lost (what I naively believed) was her last pacifier. I contemplated buying her another "back-up" but took it as a sign that it was time. Time to give up the nasty habit for good. No more pacifiers for Petunia! I do have to blame the formation of this nasty lil' habit on our wonderful babysitter....who will remain nameless...and thankfully doesn't read this blog. :) When Scout was five months old and I went back to work, the babysitter gave her one. Funny to look back and think Wiggy survived just fine without one until she had to be separated from mom. Tubbs took a pacifier too and I think we told him a dog chewed up his pacifier and he did okay with it. Friday night was pure hell but thankfully her wonderful daddy stepped in to soothe her back to sleep....every few minutes...all night long. She would wake up searching her bed for her beloved pacifier--only to wake up and realize her nightmare was a reality. There was no missing pacifier. The pacifier was in fact gone. Luke slept in her bed all night and tried to snuggle her back into sweet dreams. 24 hours without a pacifier and she finds one!! Luke locates me and tells me to look at my daughter. I walk into the living room and there she is posted up on the couch watching Yo Gabba Gabba with her doll and a pacifier! I'm horrified and at the same time wondering if I should just let her keep it....and cry Uncle. I have to take it from her. Arrrrrrrrr!! I felt so awful. She throws herself on to the ground, kicking and screaming. She calms down after a few minutes as I hide the pacifier in my dresser drawer. I can't throw it away in case she tries to dig it out of the trash. Sunday afternoon rolls around and this time Bubba finds a pacifier in the hallway closet....and gives it to her. Have you ever wanted to eat your young? I did at this moment. I had to take away another pacifier. This poor girl. She did get to suck on it for a few moments before her mean mommy confiscated it. I had a stern talk with the boys about what was going on and what they needed to do if they found another one. This time I bribe her with her own mini container of Ben and Jerry's chocolate brownie ice cream. It does the trick. I probably just started some kind of eating disorder, but I needed to ease the guilt. The little girl deserved a little bit of happiness.

Monday morning the babysitter calls to tell me Wiggy is not having a good day. She won't let the babysitter hold her or snuggle her...and isolates herself to the playroom. Broke my heart. She wouldn't take a nap or let them comfort her. Thankfully Luke leaves work a little early from work, picks her up from the babysitter and takes her for a Jamba Juice to take the edge off...... Followed by a Tutti Frutti yogurt with mama. Frozen yogurt always calms me down and I think after the last 72 hours Wiggy and I both needed something!! Thankfully another pacifier has not been located. If Wiggy would've just found one a day earlier she probably would still be sitting pretty, sucking away on her pacifiers. Its a lesson in organization!! :) This was how she looked most of the week.....distraught.

The last documented pic of Wiggy enjoying her pacifier....the night before D-Day!

Next item to tackle....potty training. Once I fully recover from this "intervention" I'll be ready to take on this beast. Wish me luck!!