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Friday, February 20, 2009

New-Found Love.....the Pacifier

Whether you call it a pacifier, paci, pier, binky, plug, suckerbite, soother, nuk, dummy, chewy, t-t, soo-soo, gucky, nu-nu, sucker, tinky-winky, or a nummy - everyone has a name for it. You can't make stuff like this up. These are real names for the pacifier. We've all seen those snot-nosed kids, riding around in the buggy at the grocery, sucking on that nasty paci. I had a sister who couldn't give it up. For anonymity's sake, we'll call her "Becky." This little one couldn't let go of that stinkin thing! I mean, it was literally stinky. I think she was over 4 years of age before my parents could get rid of that thing. They would cut it down to a nub, yet she still found a way to keep that thing in her mouth. So gross.

My almost 10 month old daughter, Kate, has not been a child to take to the paci. She used it for a week or so after she was born, but after that, she would spit it out. I have to admit, secretly, I was proud of my girl. The authors of Baby-wise would be proud. No sleep crutches used here. Parent Directed Feedings all the way. We were on the right track.....that is, until yesterday.

I arrived promptly at 8:01am, taking all of our gear, including the child, into daycare. After we had unloaded everything, the owner of the daycare, Rachel, meets me at the door and asks "Does Kate have a pacifier?" In my proudest voice, shaking my head with a slight smile, I said "Umm, no. Kate doesn't USE one of those." Rachel then said, "Well, I hate to tell you this, but she does. She has been going around to the other children's play areas and stealing their paci's. She waits until they leave the paci and she makes a bee-line for it." I was horrified!!! My little angel, using a paci?? No, it couldn't be. I said, "Are you sure?!?" Rachel replied, "Yes. She has been doing this for about a week now and you will need to purchase some paci's for her. Also, if you could pick up the thing that attaches to her shirt that ensures a paci is always there for her convenience, that would be great too." So, last night, Kate and I bundled up and went to Babies R Us (I had a coupon) and bought paci's and things to hook them to her clothes and marked them with a "K". Awesome.

All of my pride in the "paci department" is gone. So, if your child is a paci-user, please don't take offense to my tirade at the front-end here - I have joined you in your cause. In this instance, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

God blessed me in that department (and many others). I thank him daily that Sydney NEVER used one of those things.....but like you said, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

And something I've learned......choose your battles wisely. Not everything can be a battle so pick what really matters.

Melissa Diane said...

That is too funny!!! Savannah went through the same stage. She plays with them for fun and we found some hidden in her bed. The good news is she does not really want the pacifier, just wants to be like the other kids. I am glad to know that Savannah is not the only crazy pacifier stealer. We did tell daycare to just take them away, but it still cracks me up!

Anonymous said...

I should have noted too that this could be a sign that she's teething......maybe Kate will have a tooth soon!

Cyndee Corley said...

Well, I think it's a combination of teething and also wanting to be like the other kids in daycare. She doesn't actually suck on it. She just chews the plastic part...but either way, she's now got a paci hanging from her shirt :)

Leah Childress said...

While the nastiness factor of borrowing other kids' pacifiers just made me throw up a little bit, I have to say I am proud of my little niece for her boldness (don't ask, just act) and her thriftiness (don't buy, just borrow). Oh little Kate, just some of the reasons I love her so much. :) I can't wait to see what else she'll do!

Ruthie Zylstra said...

Well, this so called "Becky" did help raise Kate her first few months of life... maybe she brainwashed her into believing that a paci was the way to go. 4 more years to go :)