Stroke of Genius

Something I forgot to share but I'm still impressed with how well it worked.

At 2 and a half years old, Little Miss M was still very attached to pacifiers.  We had a rule that she couldn't take them with her out of the house, with the exception of overnight trips and that they were only allowed at nap and bedtimes.  That of course didn't stop her from sneaking them during the day though.  I can't tell you how many times she would catch a glimpse of me and yank that thing out of her mouth and hide it real quick.  She actually threw it across the room once, like nope, how could it be in my mouth if it's all the way over there?  There were countless nights where she would wake up because it fell out of her mouth and she couldn't find it so she would cry and cry till one of us went in and found it for her.  As a parent, it's a quick fix to regain silence but that didn't make it any less annoying, nor did it solve anything.
We talked about it all the time, as much as we talk about potty training (a whole other dilemma), how she's a big girl now and binkies are for babies and she would agree and then stick it back in her mouth.  I think she was missing the point.
Finally, without any thought, I threw out a suggestion.  She should leave her binkies for Santa.  She could hang them on the Christmas tree and when Santa comes he can get them and deliver them to other babies who need them.  I honestly expected this to be another one of those in one hear, out the other things but she actually got excited about this idea.  I didn't mention it too much further ...but she did.  She fully understood the whole concept.  She was waiting for the day and nobody was pushing her to do something she didn't want to do.  On one hand I was thinking this might work, on the other I wasn't looking forward to sleepless nights.

Along came Christmas Eve and I'll be damned, without coaxing, she went all around the house and gathered hidden binkies and one by one, started hanging them on the Christmas tree.  She was so proud!
Bedtime came and as all parents know, the kids can't seem to fall asleep fast enough on Christmas Eve.  Add to it a little girl who just gave up the binky.  She fell asleep just fine but staying asleep was another story.  She cried off and on every few hours and it made for a long night but in the long run, it was so worth it.

Christmas morning came and lo and behold, the binkies were gone and in it's place was a fancy princess wand and a letter from Santa!!  She was so excited!  It went off without a hitch.
So Christmas came and went and the following nights without a pacifier got easier and easier.  She still occasionally mentions that Santa gave her binkies to other babies and there is no regret on her end.  It couldn't have worked out more perfect and her dad and I didn't end up the "bad guys" for taking them from her.