They (the parenting experts) suggest too much change at one time for a child can be traumatic. Thus, when a major change is happening (or about to happen) you need to try to control the other changes in the kids life. So, what do we do?
Start potty training
Start cutting out the pacifier
Start school
Start swim lessons
... oh yeah, then we'll take him on an airplane to another country for a few days in between.
Ryan is a laid back kid. He seems to handle everything in stride. He's also tough. He's really potty training himself. HE is the one pushing it. HE is the one running to the potty. HE is the one thats totally excited (and yesterday he did #1 AND #2 ... he's a potty master!).
As for the pacifier? He isnt giving that up so easy. After some online searches I saw a few tips and followed them. #1 I poked holes in the paci so it wouldnt have any resistance. He didnt seem to care. #2 We told him about the "Binky Fairy" who would take his pacifier and give it to a baby who needs one, and leave him a present. He totally understood the concept. He tried once, and emotionally couldnt handle it. He now agrees a baby needs his pacifier, that he will let the "Binky Fairy" take it, but he isnt ready. He will be "soon". #3 I cut off the whole bottom of the pacifier. He put it in his mouth, took it out, looked at it, laughed, and put it back in his mouth. Tonight is the second night sleeping with 1/2 a pacifier ... he doesnt care. Tomorrow I'll cut it down a bit more. He isnt crying about it at all. Like I said, the kid is tough. I'm just not sure who is going to win this battle :)
And school? He seems psyched about it. He's been walking around with his backpack on with a huge grin on his face. He wants to be like his big sister, and he will in a few days. I'm hoping he still has that smile when I drop him off for the first time next week ...
And swim lessons? The kid takes a bucket and repeatedly dumps it onto his own head over and over in the bath. He is fearless.
He seems to handle everything in stride. It might be that in two weeks we will have a paci-free-diaper-free-swimming-preschooler. Or, we might not :)
