We didn't give the babes binkies until they were three months old. I was breastfeeding and wanted to be sure there was no nipple confusion. No bottles, no pacifiers, nothing but mom. Finley took to it right away and has been dependent on the thing for sleep ever since. Parker wanted nothing to do with one until, at nine months old, we moved into a new house. I thought it was his way of coping with a new situation and who was I to say no? He started sleeping with his sister's and after awhile I caved and bought some blue ones. On their first birthday we banished the binkies to crib only- naps and night time. At their two year birthday we threw all of them away but one orange one for Parker and one purple one for Finley.

Fast forward to two and a half years old. They still have them. I hate them. They stink and make morning breath nearly unbearable. They get lost and I have to search for them. It gives me the willies to see them with them...we should have been done with them long long ago. But there was too much going on I told myself- first it was a new school, then it was big kid beds, then it was potty training, then baby Harry. Too many transitions.

We've been talking with the babes for the past few months about how soon it will be time to get rid of them. Soon we will have to throw them in the trash can because we are too big to use binkies, that binks are for babies, not big kids. Well, this morning we were having our talk about being too big for binkies and Finley looked up, said 'yeah' and headed to the trash can. She tossed hers in and never looked back. Could it be that easy?

Nap time came and there were serious meltdowns. Parker, who never agreed to any of this, wanted his binky. Tears and screams and tears and more screams. Nothing I could say made it better. Of course, when you have twins this type of behavior is often contagious. Finley promptly started her own "I want my binky" show. I had to close the door and walk downstairs with two inconsolable children left sobbing in their beds. Ten minutes later and both were asleep.

I took out the trash this afternoon. There is no turning back. We are officially done with our binkies. And it feels so good.