Mama Natasha and baby Yelena chronicles

Weaning

Yelena whimpers as she tightens her grasp around her mothers leg, tiny body jolting and her cheeks wet with tears. This was day three of weaning her from nursing, and Natasha knew that Yelena was agitated beyond belief. She was doing all she could to keep her distracted. Painting. Colouring. Movies. Trips to the playground. But none of that was what Yelena wanted and Natasha's resolve was nearly out of the window.

"Shh, detka. You're okay. Go lay down on the couch. Mama will be in with lunch in a minute." She soothes as she finishes cutting Yelena's sandwich into small triangles. It was a peanut butter and jelly, Yelena's favourite, so she hopes the little one would eat it.

The three year old let's out a bitter sob as she falls defeatedly onto her butt, ignoring her mothers instructions completely. She was tired. She was sad, and all she wanted was mama's milk. She wanted mama to hold her and pat her butt and stroke her hair. Why wouldn't mama do that?

Natasha takes a deep breath to keep her own tears at bay as she bends to lift Yelena back to her feet, "Go wait on the couch baby." She instructs again, giving the back of her pull-up an encouraging pat.

With a small sob, Yelena trails slowly into the living room and climbs up onto the couch. She curls up as small as she could in the corner, facing away from everything and clutching her comfort blanket tightly to her chest.

That was sight Natasha was greeted with when she makes it to the living room a few moments later. Setting the plate down onto the coffee table, she scoops the crying toddler up into her arms and holds her close. One hand was beneath her butt keeping her supported, and the other was running softly up and down her back. She presses gentle kisses to the tiny shoulder as she paces, not knowing what else she could do to make the situation better without ultimately giving in.

Yelena lays limp against her, cries loud and pitiful. It makes Natasha's heart hurt, and before she knew it, a single tear trails down her cheek leaving a wet trail in its wake.

This sucked.

*

Getting Yelena to sleep was proving to be an almost impossible task. No matter what Natasha does, the three year old just wouldn't settle. Before they'd started the weaning process, Yelena would nurse down to sleep pretty much every night. It was soothing, it was familiar, and it was close. Three things she most relied on.

Natasha had tried her best to mimic the closeness by offering her a bottle whilst cradled in her arms, but Yelena had simply pushed it away and tugged pleadingly at her shirt. Natasha, as much as she'd wanted to, didn't give in. She'd lifted Yelena to rest against her chest, head heavy against Natasha's shoulder. Yelena hadn't liked this, and she'd let her mother know by squirming out of her grip and curling up by the footboard of the bed.

By now, her cries sounded somewhat painful. Her voice sounded hoarse and she'd cough after each long string of heartbreaking sobs. She'd cried herself raw, and Natasha had never hated herself more.

The toddler was exhausted, both mentally and physically, and Natasha could feel herself running out of options. She didn't know what do to. She didn't know how to make things better.

"Come to mama sweet girl." Natasha pleads as she holds open her arms, but Yelena doesn't budge. She remains curled up on her front at the foot of the bed, her tiny body jolting with the force of her sobs.

Natasha's eyes fill with tears as she sits up and crawls over to her, laying down on her stomach and resting her head in her hand. She reaches the other out to gently brush away the sweaty strand of hair from the toddlers face, tucking it behind her ear.

"I'm sorry little one." She apologises in a small murmur as she leans in to place a kiss against the wet cheek, "I know you want to nurse, but your mama's big girl now. You don't need it anymore. I'm not being mean to make you upset."