Campfire WooHaHaHa

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

Little Retta has had an unusually long and extremely close relationship with her Binkies. I am not one to make decisions for my children when they should give something up...I am a firm believer until I am able to completely give up all my neurotic, false security inducing instruments and habits..I have no right to ask my children to give up theirs. It is always their choice.

I did ask her recently if she was going to keep the binkies forever and she firmly stated, YES. I let it go. Then she started bringing it up....saying she would give them up when she was five. Then, she asked Musa how he dumped his when he was little. He told her the story of how he had given them to the baby bunnies in the woods. (He really did lay them all in the woods one night and lo and behold the next morning they were gone!) He was so proud he had helped the sad little, binkieless bunnies.

She thought for a spell and decided she didn't like that idea. I mentioned we could have a special campfire ceremony and she jumped on the idea. She choose the night and the ceremony was planned. I figured she would back out at the last moment, but she surprised me.

The campfire was lit in the middle of the yard. When it got to burning bright and it started getting dark the magic began. Envision if you will the tank scene from the movie Finding Nemo---drums beating, tiki masks and the spiritual sounding chant of WOO-HA-HA-HA, WOO-HA-HA-HA. Now, throw in a dance around the campfire..a hop on one foot, then a hop on the other, now a little kick, chanting loudly. Several circles around the campfire..all the family members.....then, suddenly, I grab, Retta from behind, fill her little cupped hands with all of the binkies and say with all seriousness ( in my best Tiki voice)...Little WankaHonkaBinkieLover....you have the power to make the moon bighter and to bring the stars out. Throw your binkies into the fire and the spirit of the binkies will leave this Earth and encircle the moon and stars. The Moon will shine brighter because of you and you will N-E-V-E-R have trouble sleeping again. When you are ready LittleWonkaHonkaBinkieLover...THROW!!

At which point with the seriousness of the universe on her shoulders, she threw every last one of the binkies into the fire. "Look Mom, they are melting." And then her eyes turned upward and she saw the moon, "Mom, LOOK IT IS SO MUCH BRIGHTER, and it is waving at me!!!" Then, as if by magic the stars started poping out, one by one, twinkling and waving at Retta. It was a magical night. She has easily fallen asleep the last four nights without any signs of binkie withdrawl.  

                                               

It worked so beautifully for her....that some night if you drive by my house and you see me dancing and chanting and chucking donuts into the fire, you will understand what I am doing.

If you get a chance...check out the moon...doesn't it look a little brighter?