Well, for the second time of attempting to fully wean my 4. 5 yr old dd.. I kept hearing the voice and the beat of my heart's reason. The first time it certainly SEEMED like she was agreeing with me on the official day of her 4 and a half birthday being the right time. Then she changed her mind. After that we went to every other night. that worked okay. Then after a few nights where she fell asleep before i came in (we nurse only before bed) and then a subsequent night of her away from me-- where she quite seriously told me afterwards how she didnt nurse and was fine-- then another subsequent night where again she fell asleep exhausted without me, all this leading to my thinking "she really does not need to do this anymore".<br>
Now, enter also my pshycoanalysis of the situation my dd is having: Starting KIndergarten very soon, lots of new changes in her development as of late, then ** this strange, sudden obsession to collect leaves and things on the ground, frantic at times to pick them up before the wind gets them.<br>
Of course, I begin to think it's my fault that i didnt stick to fully weaning her before and that my indecision and her underlying concerns about school are leading her to attempt to control things through this obsession. I think that i must be strong for her and stick to the weaning. We talked about it, she agreed she was done. we even talked about rides on the carousel for ending nursing....<br>
That was all on Sunday night.... now it is Wednesday evening, I listened to her almost begging me to nurse, tried to cuddle her, tried to sing to her, tried to be strong and tell her it was time and that "we" made the deciison.<br>
As a sat there in the bed that I've been nursing in for about 7 years in, rocking and soothing her, and her asking again, my mind and heart trying to come to an understanding, I came to the realization that just as I always have believed that kids should be allowed to find comfort and love as long as they need it and that they will know when they can move on from there that I still believe that. My pushing her harder than she was willing to be pushed was not helping. How could i take this from her when she is not really ready right before she begins school??? I asked her when she would stop nursing: she said as if she was quite sure "five." I really dont know if when 5 comes she will stop, though. What if she doesnt? Will I be able to carry on with nursing at night still? will i find a more clever way to truly completely wean her?<br><br>
So... actually i must say: it felt good to nurse her, to know It could be that simple: a mama and her nursing child. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/love.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="love">
Now, enter also my pshycoanalysis of the situation my dd is having: Starting KIndergarten very soon, lots of new changes in her development as of late, then ** this strange, sudden obsession to collect leaves and things on the ground, frantic at times to pick them up before the wind gets them.<br>
Of course, I begin to think it's my fault that i didnt stick to fully weaning her before and that my indecision and her underlying concerns about school are leading her to attempt to control things through this obsession. I think that i must be strong for her and stick to the weaning. We talked about it, she agreed she was done. we even talked about rides on the carousel for ending nursing....<br>
That was all on Sunday night.... now it is Wednesday evening, I listened to her almost begging me to nurse, tried to cuddle her, tried to sing to her, tried to be strong and tell her it was time and that "we" made the deciison.<br>
As a sat there in the bed that I've been nursing in for about 7 years in, rocking and soothing her, and her asking again, my mind and heart trying to come to an understanding, I came to the realization that just as I always have believed that kids should be allowed to find comfort and love as long as they need it and that they will know when they can move on from there that I still believe that. My pushing her harder than she was willing to be pushed was not helping. How could i take this from her when she is not really ready right before she begins school??? I asked her when she would stop nursing: she said as if she was quite sure "five." I really dont know if when 5 comes she will stop, though. What if she doesnt? Will I be able to carry on with nursing at night still? will i find a more clever way to truly completely wean her?<br><br>
So... actually i must say: it felt good to nurse her, to know It could be that simple: a mama and her nursing child. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/love.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="love">
