Yesterday was the big day. After nearly four years with a paci (considering he didn't start using it at birth), yesterday was the day we established as "Say Goodbye to Pacis Forever Day."
It's funny. I remember seeing a friend's child with a paci a few years ago. The child was about 2 1/2 and I thought, "Wow. That child is a bit old for a paci. I can't believe they (the parents) haven't taken that away from him." Well, now they can laugh at me. For years Thomas has only used his pacis when in bed (or at least in his room, that has been the rule). And I know we should have taken them away, but to be honest, pacis made MY life easier.
If Thomas was misbehaving, a simple threat of taking his pacis away at night usually straightened him right up. At night, I was pretty sure he would not come out of his room after I put him to bed because he knew that if he did, I would take away his pacis. Since Trey used to (until this week! Hooray for a new job!) travel so much for his job, it made it easier on me as a single parent during the week. Survival mode knows no boundaries. :)
One paci was not enough for him. He would put one in his mouth and hold another to the side of his face. The boy was addicted. Seriously.
When he saw the dentist about six months ago, the dentist encouraged us to take it away (though he acknowledged that Thomas' teeth had not been very affected by his paci use...and certainly not to the extent that he would have expected with such long-term use). But still, I let him continue. But then we finally decided that four-year olds don't have pacis and we set the big day.
Thomas decided, "I want to be three forever!" and that's what he would tell us when we mentioned that his birthday was near. So then I decided we wouldn't take it away on the actual day of his birthday so he wouldn't be so sad about what should be a happy day. So this weekend was it.
Taking an idea from a friend, we decided to take Thomas to Toys R'Us and let him pick out whatever he wanted (within reason, of course) and he would "pay" for this toy with his pacis. We told him that the store takes them and gives them to little babies who need them. So he went along, begrudgingly, with our plan. The picture above was just before we got out of the car in the parking lot at TRU. And I should note that at that time he didn't want anyone to see him with the pacis (he was embarrassed that he had them as he did know that he is too old!).
He went in, picked out two new components for his Thomas the train set (a railroad crossing and signal station) and gave the cashier his pacis for payment. All seemed to be fine.
Then we got in the car and I realized he just wasn't himself. I accidentally brushed my hand across his leg and realized it was burning hot. When we got home I confirmed what I suspected, he had a fever. Now I was believing what he told me earlier in the day, that his throat hurt when he swallowed.
He went up to his room to rest after refusing lunch (he had essentially refused breakfast as well), but just kept crying because, as he said, "I need something to suck on." I felt terrible. I took his pacis away (and they were gone!!!) on the day he was running a temperature of 102.
Not the best timing; and I ended up sleeping with him for most of the night last night, but whatever...they are gone, finally. We took him in this morning for a strep test (rapid test was negative) as he is still running a fever. Surely it's not possible that he is suffering from the great loss of his pacis. :-)
Since he is still running a fever, school is out for tomorrow. Not exactly a great start to the week...and life without pacis is certainly not making things any easier!
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