1 Mother 2 Another

We’re on Day Three of Operation:
Pull the Plug and so far we’re doing really well.


When I say “we”, I mean Maddie. Let’s be fair,
she’s doing all the hard work, keeping that thumb out of her
mouth.


She has had a couple crying spells, when the sheer sorrow and
lack-of-thumb has washed over her and left her aching with longing.
Then she simply clings to me and sobs, “I want my thumb so
bad!”


I hold her and say nothing – for after all, what is there to
say? She’s doing this voluntarily. She knows it will be hard.
She’s moving ahead anyway.


Monday morning saw Chocolate Chip Pancakes for breakfast from her
rewards chart, and Tuesday we brought in lunch to school for her.
(P.F. Chang’s. Only my child.) Today she gets a tea party
with a menu of her choosing, so after school we’re having
homemade wheat thins, homemade peppermint patties, homemade sorbet
pops, and lemonade.


Plus lots of books and lots of snuggling. That’s a given
though, right?


So Maddie’s moving bravely ahead, in spite of this being
“almost too hard to do.” And I have reminded her that
sometimes, being brave isn’t doing some extraordinary feat of
strength or courage that’s over in an instant. Sometimes,
being brave is simply showing up. Every minute.


My kid is so brave.