happy ending

Well, the kids are 3 yrs and (almost) 3 months...and I think we're done!

For quite a while, we'd been down to nursing only before naptime and bedtime. They never had a problem if I was out during those times, but if I was home, they wanted to nurse. But I could tell lately that it was getting less and less important to them. A few days ago, on a whim, I asked them if they wanted to nurse and read one book before naptime, or not nurse and read three books. No pushing one way or the other - I'd happily have nursed if they wanted. But they went straight for more reading.

I let them decide what they wanted at naptime/bedtime for the next couple days, and they always went for more books. Since it really looked like this was it, I nursed them last night before bed --- just because I wanted to have an "official" last time to remember (and not just "Let's see, did we nurse on Saturday, or was it...?"), and I wanted DH to take some pictures. I told them that they can always change their minds, and if they want to nurse again, that's OK. But they told me cheerfully that they were all done. Surprisingly, my clingy little mommy's girl took the lead with that and really insisted after that last nursing session that that was it, she was really all done. (I could tell she felt so proud and grown up about it too. ^_^ )

And I am really happy to be done, in all respects. I'm glad to have my body completely all to myself again, and not to have to deal with the ritual of getting the pillow set up and them on it (even when they really, really wanted to nurse, they'd still sometimes get distracted and/or try to stall before bed). But I am also just so, so happy and satisfied at the way everything has turned out. I always wanted to do child-led weaning, and it's worked out perfectly for us. It has been so cool to see them naturally tapering off at their own pace, with only minimal nudging from me - it has been an effortless progression from clingy 18 mo olds who wanted to nurse at the drop of a hat, to more laid-back 2-2.5 yr olds who really loved their nursing, but were content with just a few sessions, to my big kids who are ready to happily say "bye bye" to nursing all on their own.

:yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

 

That's great Holly! Congratulations! :Clap:

 

WOW!! Go you! Congratulations! :clapping:

 

aww! i'm getting a little teary eyed over here. :blush: it sounds like such a lovely way to bring things to a close. and super huge congratulations for meeting your goals & doing such an amazing job! :yahoo:

 

I'm teary, too. How beautiful.

 

That's fabulous!!! WTG!

 

What an awesome milestone Holly!! They did it their way and you did it your way!! "Perfect!" as my ds would say! WTG! :yahoo:

Congratulations on nursing them this long!!!

 

Awesome! Congrats!

 

Amazing job, Holly!!! :clapping:

Congrats!!!

 

That's awesome Holly. Now give yourself a few months and go buy some fancy bras.

 

:acute: What she said!

Congratulations, and great job! :clapping:

 

Wow. That's awesome! I also took pictures of our "last time" It was important to have that closure I think. Then for Mother's Day I went out and bought myself a new bra from Victoria Secret (with a gift certificate I'd been saving for 2 years...before I got pregnant with my twins!!!) It was kinda like my little celebration and a little pick me up (in more ways than one!!) ha! ha!

shannon

 

WTG mama thats awesome!

 

You rock Holly! Congrats and I'm so happy that there was such a beautiful ending to it!

 

That is a beautiful way to move on. What big and happy kids. Congrats to all of you!