What a shame.

Since when is it okay to tease a child? Whether you like something they are doing/ wearing etc or not, it is simply not acceptable. My 2.5 year old is very attached to his dummy (called a Binky in our house),  we are in no hurry to get rid of it, he will when he is ready, he happens to still like to comfort suck, what of it?. We do not limit his use of it whether at home or in public, on occasion we do ask him to remove it to talk so we can understand him - making conversations less frustrating for both parties, but for the most part it is a non-issue. His binky is never a substitute for love and affection, it is never 'plug up and shut up' device. With his hugs and cuddles he likes his bink. If  Iwere still breastfeeding him, I would allow comfort nursing sucking without limit, instead of/with the use of a bink!

At a family gathering a few days ago, his dummy use came up a few times. I can handle people telling me their thoughts on the subject I can ignore or thank them for their concern and go on my merry way, but when people start saying things to my toddler, its a different ballgame.

"You look so ugly with that in"
Umm... excuse me, the binky may be unsightly to you, but don't say my child looks ugly

"You're a big boy now, you don't need that"
I'm sorry, I was unaware of this magical age where a childs needs instantly change, I'm sorry sir you are now 35 you no longer need that pillow to sleep, you shouldn't need that comfort, you're a man now.

*upon walking past my child on the way outside to have a cigarette*
"Take that silly thing out of your mouth"
Really? Come on now! Your form of comfort is sucking on that death stick, I'd much prefer my child was your age still sucking on his binky....thank-you-very-much.


Just a few of the many comments said directly to my child. My 2.5 year has a binky, he is quietly sitting in the kids corner playing with a train set, he is happy, healthy, smart, talkative and gorgeous, we should definitely get rid of that binky it is quite obviously corrupting him, the invisible age law comes into affect and its just not right!

No wonder there is so much stereotyping, class separation in the schooling system, they are taught that certain things are just not acceptable at certain ages. To play with toys, run, jump, make fortes and skip is not deemed 'cool or grown up' therefore you are separated into groups of 12 year olds (those that are children and those that are mini adults) and they ostrasized and bullied for 'being babies', now people are doing that to children as young as 2!... I am in my mid 20's and enjoy jumping in puddles. . :/  Our kids grow up fast enough without forcing this 'big boy' nonsense - "Big boys use the toilet", "big boys don't have dummies", its shaming a child into growing up, its teasing a child.

Don't shame your children for being children!