Almost 3, almost done...I'm sad :(

[springmum]

Would love some support through these last few weeks of gentle weaning.

My almost 3 yr old son & I had a seriously difficult time with nursing in the early months (OALD, weekly mastitis infections, oversupply for 6 months, food intolerances & screaming at the breast for 6 months) But we were determined and we made it!

I've loved our nursing relationship, the quiet moments, the early mornings even. We nightweaned at 18 months which was a little difficult, but it improved some things greatly. He even stopped nursing to sleep at night on his own!

For the last few months I've stopped offering - he's still a boob-man, so would ask, but accepted my refusal's unless he was really tired or hurt.

A couple of months ago we were down to 3 times a day (am, nap, before bed) I decided to drop the nap nursing. Other than the first hearbreaking day when he looked at me, sad, and said "but I don't have mulky in mouth" - it was easy (no tears, just cuddling to sleep)

I've just started night school and so a couple of times a week he goes to bed without "mulky" before, and it's been going well. I decided to drop the before bed nursing while I'm home too. This has also been a good process. Some protesting a little, but nothing stressful.

I'll drop his a.m. nursing in another couple of weeks or so, when I think he's ready.

So we've done this gently. There have been some tears, but overall I think it's been a good, slow transition. He would still nurse way more if I offered of course.

I'm feeling very sad about the end of this though!! It breaks my heart I won't nurse him anymore, even though I know this is the right time for us. I'm a SAHM (other than the night courses) so I still have time to cuddle and hug, but it might be a bigger change for me than him!

I saw someone once wrote a letter to their child when they weaned - I would love to do that.

Any other ideas or words of encouragement to help with the guilt?