Okay - the title of this article made my hackles stand up. But then I read it and realized it’s actually not a bad article. The mom breastfed her son til age 3 and then she’d had enough, so she weaned him. No harm, no foul. Sounds like all went okay.

That said, I have often wondered HOW I would possibly wean Zoe if she decides not to do the self-directed “child-led weaning” thing. Well last night, I had an incredibly sore right breast (battling mastitis again - ughh, don’t get me started) so I tried something I’ve never done before: I told her that side was off limits. I used the words “ouchie” and “broken,” two words I know she understands, to describe that breast. She fussed a bit, asked repeatedly for “other side” but she clearly understood after I had answered lovingly several times “oh baby, I know you want other side, and Mommy wishes she could let you, but other side is broken right now. It’s very ouchie. Zoe can have other side tomorrow, but right now no other side.”

You know what she did? She started answering herself - when she would fuss for “other side” she would then say “no, ouchie. Other side ouchie” and a couple of times she actually raised up to gently, lightly kiss my sore breast (didn’t hurt at all - that’s how feather light she was in her touch). So sweet! My little baby girl is so smart, grown up and full of empathy! It made me really proud of her and I was so glad when I felt well enough this morning to give her other side (I pumped last night, since that was less painful than nursing for some reason).

This gives me hope that if she shows no signs of weaning at age 3, she will very much understand if I need to tell her that we’re done with mimis. If she can understand this much now, at 22 months, she will definitely understand the other in another year. Not that I want her to wean before she’s ready! But I think by age 3, I’ll definitely be ready… and I think she will be too, even if she doesn’t realize it.

BTW, don’t read the comments on the article unless you want to get REALLY upset. So many ignorant trolls out there mothering children… it’s a sad world sometimes. Ughh.