No More Tandeming

"Ok lah, 4 y, enough lah, high time to stop." - every auntie who is told.

I've weaned R1 at the grand ole age of 4 years 2 months. Two weeks ago we were all not well, and most nights I asked her to drink fresh milk because I was really tired. Then after we got better I tandem nursed them one night and asked whether she was ok with not nursing anymore, and she said ok. Imagine my surprise. She said she wanted to "drink fresh milk evvverydayyy!"

Well, since then she has asked to nurse like once or twice, but by default she'll ask me to pour her some fresh milk, so I guess she's ready to move on. I know for my part that I've put the matter out of my head, so I'll refuse even if she asks again.

It's bittersweet, because although I know I won't have to deal with angstiness, irritation, and feelings of being outraged anymore, I AM sad that I won't be able to give her the protection of the antibodies, immune substances, and other components of my milk (she refuses to take ebm). And of course, weaning does signify that she's not a baby anymore, so there goes another chapter in my life. I look back on her baby days with nostalgia.

At the same time, I am seriously beginning solids for R2. He's taken quite kindly to instant pasta sauce and chicken porridge, so if I have the time (with the school holidays just beginning I'm not quite sure how to proceed), I WILL. So I tell myself.

Perhaps it's coincidental, but I developed blocked ducts just a few days after that, on the left side. And when I massaged and nursed R2 in the football position I always nursed R1, the ducts cleared! It's possible that she always used to clear those ducts for me, and since she stopped, they kind of started to build up. Well, the plugs are still there, but are clearing slowly, and I'm thankful, because I've heard of some moms developing mastitis from plugs after weaning an older nursling. Ouch!

Btw, our eMac has arrived, hurray! It's not connected to the internet though, because our DSL modem for the Dell is not compatible. We need to upgrade our broadband package to get the free Ethernet modem, sheesh!