I have to say, I am proud of the fact that she nursed so long. I think every mom and child should figure out when the right time is for them...3 months, 6 months, a year, two years, or more. I am perplexed as to why this culture isn't more accepting of breast-feeding beyond approximately 1 year. I've heard people say that when a child recognizes a breast, or can talk about a breast, it means it's time to stop. I disagree. So if a child can say "bottle" does it mean she should immediately move on to a sippy cup? "Ahhh...you said bottle...so no bottle for you!" Children grow up so fast. Why are we so eager to get them "off the boob"? What is so important about getting them to stop breast-feeding? The ability to provide nourishment and enormous emotional comfort for my daughter is awesome beyond words. In an over-stimulated world, the breast provided a place where my daughter could slow down, chill-out, reset, and many times, fall fast asleep in the comfort of my arms and my scent.
Breast-feeding also provides a child with so many nutrients and antibodies. There were many times when I was sick with a virus and Charlotte either did not get sick at all, or seemed to acquire a mild case. I do think this is a result of her nursing. Since she is now weaned, I no longer have the ability to pass on antibodies.
When my husband would tell his friends that Charlotte was still nursing, he would often hear comments like "your kidding!?" "really!?" He even heard this once from a male doctor, someone who didn't know me, but who apparently thought I was crazy to still be nursing my 2.5 year old. This, I find incredibly insulting. Who is he to judge? And a doc even, someone who should recognize the benefits! And to have a reaction that insinuated I was doing something wrong! How absurd.
The real weaning happened over the course of approximately one month. First, I stopped the morning moki (as she called it). There were probably 2 or 3 very sad mornings where my comfort had to be provided through hugs, swaying, talking and fresh air. Then there was the week where I came home from work and immediately swept her out the door to some restaurant for dinner, so as to distract her from the after-work comfort drink. She liked to tie one on after a long day without me. And finally, there was the breaking off of the last before-bed night cap. This was the most difficult one to stop, as it was the last remaining moki. A couple of wild fits later, and she seemed to get the message. No more moki. She seemed defeated and I felt horrible. But after a day or so of being mad at me, she now seems fine. She still tells me she loves me; thank God!
I am seriously not sure if it was the weaning or her turning 3, but she has suddenly turned into somebody new. Rambunctious and wild, Charlotte is now changed forever, as am I. She still touches the moki for comfort, but she and I are finding new ways to stay connected. For the first time ever, I read to her in bed and she got very sleepy while listening to me read, instead of while suckling. It was a nice feeling for both of us, I think.
