This is Max home from the hospital with his pacifier

This is Max at 2 1/2 with his pacifier:

Around the time this photo was taken I decided that we were going to be pacifier free by the time he was 3 years old. Max turns 3 in two weeks. I’ve been plotting my strategy around this issue very carefully. I knew that it would take guts, cunning, courage, determination and the ability to overwhelm my enemy. It was not a mission for the weak.

This past Saturday the “Paci-Fairy” (aka Grandma) delivered an empty box for said pacifiers. A box in which the pacifiers were to be placed, sealed and mailed back to the “paci-fairy” in exchange for cash and prizes. Max and Lucy enthusiastically scoured the house for pacifiers and placed them joyously in the box. I was in shock. This was going to be so much easier than I thought. We screamed in joy, we slapped hands in gleeful high-fives and then sealed the box. Instantly Max began to cry and wail “I DON’T WANT PACI-FAIRY TO COME. I NOT BIG BOY!!” I sighed, this was more in line with what I expected. However, I had prepared for this reaction and so with the will power of a super model on a diet I calmly said “no more pacis.”

Bed time came and I was worried. I knew I couldn’t sustain this level of determination without proper sleep and so we conceded to let him have his pacifier at bed time. Max slept fitfully all night, moaning, and crying in his sleep. No doubt the result of withdrawal symptoms. The next morning when instructed to leave his pacifier in the bed the drama resumed; “I WANT PACI. I NOT BIG BOY!!” I steadfastly held my position. We would have no pacifiers outside of bed. After an hour and a half he tearfully complied. My first true victory. I rallied myself and proceeded to make breakfast. Max proceeded to whine for the next 3 hours.

Each day has been an exact reenactment of that first day. The only difference is that the length of whining has decreased and he no longer even thinks about asking for it during the day. My battle spirit is weak. I’m wondering why now, why this date? But alas, we are too far into this conflict to withdraw. Our only option is to continue our strategic offensive, to keep the enemy on his heels, to push him until his will for that pacifier is broken. We have persuaded Lucy to join our side of this battle and now Max has no allies left. He must give up the pacifier if he chooses to live peacefully within the house of Morley.

Some day I may look back upon this time and be wistful, but for now I’m focused on our mission. There is no other option but victory and it will be mine.

UPDATE: A week into this mission and now Max, after much thought, willingly places his pacifier under his pillow in the morning and joins the family. As long as he gets plenty of rest and sleep he seems to be fine. However, when something strays outside of the routine his crying is heartfelt and often long in duration. In the words of George Bush; “Mission Complete”. I think I can safely use that reference here with its full meaning behind it.