Today I realized I want to maybe, think about, perhaps weaning Mace. I know many people who are thinking "Finally!" but I really do believe in child led weaning. Maddie nursed until 3 and weaned when I got pregnant with Mason, so I really have no solid weaning experience. I didn't really do anything to wean her. So without another pregnancy on the horizon (envision pouty face) I think this time it's going to have to be a bit more mom-directed.

So I know the hardline child lead wean-ers (ha ha) will probably not like my thinking this way. They will say he'll stop when he's ready! And I know that...but I need an end date in mind. He's going to be 3 in November. I think he wouldn't have irrevocable mental anguish from weaning soon. He's gotten all the good parts of nursing, as have I. I'd just like to be able to sit down without him needing nursies.

So there's my treason to the CLW group. And even typing it, I know I probably won't actively wean. I'll do more of a "don't offer, sometimes refuse" thing. To those aforementioned hardliners, this IS weaning. But I don't see it that way. I just think, at almost 3, he's able to sometimes wait to nurse. He's able to understand that I can't always just drop everything to nurse. He's old enough to get that. So we'll still have nursing available, but if he finds that after waiting a few minutes he'd rather play with his trains or play outside with his brother and sister, I think that's an okay thing. It's not cold turkey, it's just a gentle nudge.

I keep wondering if I'm going to be sad when he weans. To be honest, I don't recall being sad when Maddie weaned. This was due in large part to the excruciating discomfort I'd feel when trying to nurse her (disclaimer here, I do totally support tandem nursing. But for me, just didn't work out at all). So I'm not sure if under normal circumstances I would have felt more sadness for that time ending. I'm not sure I'll feel sadness this time either; I think I'll feel more of a twinge. One of those moments where you think "they're growing up so fast" but not true sadness. Who knows though.