It started when Abe was an infant. Two weeks after his birth, Kelly left to start a new job in a new state and Abe didn't sleep. I remember laying beside him on the bed popping a pacifier in his mouth over and over again until he finally took it and I could sleep for 20 minutes. It started there, but it soon turned into a baggie with 3 newly washed pacifiers accompanying us on every trip whether it be to California or the supermarket. Lilly would cry, "Mom, please make him stop crying," and I'd reach back to his carseat with my right hand, feel around for his mouth with the pacifier and hold it in place until finally he'd hold it there on his own, all the while driving with my left hand and a lead right foot urging us down the road at a slightly accelerated speed praying we'd all make it there alive. Then as he grew, it turned into just a sleep aid. But then, Oh then!, I bought a blue pacifier and it became a best friend. As we'd go up the stairs for a nap, he'd happily chant "bu folly, bu folly." When I needed some quiet, I relied on the magic of bu folly to quiet my boy so I could think. Putting him to bed was a cinch because he loved being reunited with his bu folly. It was not only his friend, but mine as well. Then came the trip to the dentist...
We realized then that Abe couldn't even close his mouth all the way. His endearing crooked smile wasn't actually a good thing and needed to be corrected. It was time. After all, he was 2 1/2. I knew I had to be the one to do it. If Kelly took it away and it caused my boy any pain, I'd blame Kelly and get mad at him for doing it the wrong way. So, this was my plan: I had to wait until Abe made me angry enough. Then, out of frustration, I would snip the tip to bu folly. I couldn't do it any other way. I had to be mad otherwise how could I do such a cruel thing? Well, it was only a matter of time, and then, out of frustration towards me because I told him no over something, he walked to the table, and with glaring eyes he picked up his half eaten bowl of cheerios and dumped them all over the table, chair and floor. Here was my chance. I took him to his room, got the pacifier, got the scissors, took a moment to realize exactly what I was doing and then I cut off the top (without him seeing of course). It was done and there was no turning back.
For the rest of the day everytime I looked at that adorable little face, my heart broke. What had I done!?!?!? I knew in the long run it was the right thing, but I was just sick when I looked at his big eyes and crazy hair. Then night came and while putting on his pajamas I told him I had some bad news. "Bu folly broke, " I said. I showed him and he tried it out and would spit it out not understanding what was going on. He wanted it fixed and I explained that no one could fix it. As I sang him songs, he'd interrupt me every other line and we'd talk about bu folly as if giving it a eulogy. Still unsure, I put him in his crib and he fell asleep. That night, around 11:30, I woke up to him groaning. Kelly went in and rubbed his back until he fell back to sleep. The next morning he woke up crying, head buried in his hands, for his bu folly. Nap time was difficult for a few days, but a new routine of singing and rocking in the rocking chair has helped as he adjusts to the new way of life. And even though he nearly every day asks about bu folly, he is doing quite well. Soon it will be but a faded memory and then he'll only remember his friend through photographs. So as this chapter of life comes to a close, we'd like to bid a very fond farewell to Abe's first best friend-
Adios Bu Folly!
We realized then that Abe couldn't even close his mouth all the way. His endearing crooked smile wasn't actually a good thing and needed to be corrected. It was time. After all, he was 2 1/2. I knew I had to be the one to do it. If Kelly took it away and it caused my boy any pain, I'd blame Kelly and get mad at him for doing it the wrong way. So, this was my plan: I had to wait until Abe made me angry enough. Then, out of frustration, I would snip the tip to bu folly. I couldn't do it any other way. I had to be mad otherwise how could I do such a cruel thing? Well, it was only a matter of time, and then, out of frustration towards me because I told him no over something, he walked to the table, and with glaring eyes he picked up his half eaten bowl of cheerios and dumped them all over the table, chair and floor. Here was my chance. I took him to his room, got the pacifier, got the scissors, took a moment to realize exactly what I was doing and then I cut off the top (without him seeing of course). It was done and there was no turning back.
For the rest of the day everytime I looked at that adorable little face, my heart broke. What had I done!?!?!? I knew in the long run it was the right thing, but I was just sick when I looked at his big eyes and crazy hair. Then night came and while putting on his pajamas I told him I had some bad news. "Bu folly broke, " I said. I showed him and he tried it out and would spit it out not understanding what was going on. He wanted it fixed and I explained that no one could fix it. As I sang him songs, he'd interrupt me every other line and we'd talk about bu folly as if giving it a eulogy. Still unsure, I put him in his crib and he fell asleep. That night, around 11:30, I woke up to him groaning. Kelly went in and rubbed his back until he fell back to sleep. The next morning he woke up crying, head buried in his hands, for his bu folly. Nap time was difficult for a few days, but a new routine of singing and rocking in the rocking chair has helped as he adjusts to the new way of life. And even though he nearly every day asks about bu folly, he is doing quite well. Soon it will be but a faded memory and then he'll only remember his friend through photographs. So as this chapter of life comes to a close, we'd like to bid a very fond farewell to Abe's first best friend-
Adios Bu Folly!
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