We’re on our way to the cottage on Lake Superior. Matthew handled the first 3.5 hours like a champ. We stopped at Whole Foods, bought some essentials, ate some lunch, tried to explain my t-shirt to a random guy (“guns don’t kill people. People from Texas kill people”)* and packed back up for the remaining 2.5 hour drive. At that point, Matthew had been out of the car for an hour and a half, chatting it up with everyone in site (and there was a festival going on in the parking lot so there was a lot of chatting to do!), and had no interest in getting back in the car.
Cue the screaming!
He was ready for a nap but was so upset about being back in the car, that he refused to sleep. It was deafening, and my heart ached for him. He was just so sad.
So we stopped to get gas and I made room for myself in the backseat with him. While making room, I found one of the pacifiers we’d tried when we were working on his sleep habits. I figured, “why the hell not? Try it!” And….
He took it and did what he was supposed to do with it (versus play with it and chew it like he’s always done before)! It calmed him instantly! I was stunned and didn’t expect it to last. But it did! And he fell asleep! I cannot believe this! And before you say it, yes I know that I may have caused a new habit to rid him of later, but I’ll deal with that later. I think I may use this when I start weaning Matthew later this month (cue the tears).
* So the shirt… I should not have worn it to Whole Foods, of all places. Bad decision. I wasn’t thinking. But I like the shirt. I like the message… Or what I thought the message was (I figured it was just making fun of Texans for wielding their guns all over the place). After pondering for about 5 minutes, the guy who asked about it piped up and said he thought it had to do with Texas killing so many people with their death penalty. Hmmm… Yes… That makes much more sense. And I now like this shirt even more!!!! I don’t find it as funny as I did, but I am totally against the death penalty so I’m perfectly comfortable making this statement.
All the Sun For You 
June 3, 2012 at 6:13 pm
Every month or so I have retried the pacifier with Stella. As glad as I am that she doesn’t like it and it’s not in her mouth for pictures + one less habit to break, she is NOT a good car traveler, and there has been many a time that I have wished she liked a nuk. Time to try it again!
I have NEVER thought about that shirt/quote being in regards to the death penalty. HM….*like*
June 3, 2012 at 8:23 pm
Hmm, I thought I posted a comment but maybe not. Anyway, I LOVE Lake Superior. LOOOOOVE it. Enjoy! (Though that must have been quite a car trip from Iowa. What a trooper!)
June 4, 2012 at 3:35 am
Sofi loves her pacifiers. She doesn’t even have a lovey, just an extra pacifier. Seriously, when I put her in bed at night (with one paci in her mouth) she rolls over, grabs an extra paci, switches them out, and then falls asleep. It’s adorable but I’m nervous about breaking that habit down the road…
Anyway, I hope you have a fabulous time on the lake.
P.S. I had never thought of that interpretation for the shirt but it’s awesome. I doubt that it’s the message the shirt makers had in mind, but I do like that message.
June 4, 2012 at 5:56 am
I would say Whole Foods is the *perfect* place to wear that shirt. I’ve never seen it before, but as a Canadian, I thought of both interpretations right away.
HGB also went through an I HATE THE CAR phase. He has never had a soother, but to keep him calm I slowly pass him cereal flakes to suck on. It’s our super high-fibre hippie cereal, so he had to suck on it good to eat it!
June 4, 2012 at 2:49 pm
The best advice I’ve been given as far as parenting? Use whatever tools you have. I’m not a fan of pacifiers, but I asked for some anyways and got them at my baby shower yesterday. You just never know!
June 6, 2012 at 11:04 am
Great advice!