A Danish rite of passage occurs when a child gives up their pacifier. All their pacifiers are gathered, and the family makes a trip to a pacifier tree. The pacifiers, and sometimes bottles as well, are left on the tree. Often notes are left as well, that explain that the child no longer needs these comforting items because he or she is older now.
Several of my Danish friends have expressed embarrassment over these trees (and it is a bit…odd), but I can see the value in this tradition. Surely it makes it easier for the kid to see that they are not the only ones that have to give up their pacifiers. And surely, after making a trip to the pacifier tree, it’s less tempting to revert to the older, less mature behavior. It might make it easier on the parents as well, as they are giving gifts to the trees instead of cruelly throwing away their child’s treasured items.
It’s not a bad idea, and probably something that adults need as well. Perhaps there should be cigarette trees. And junk food trees. And credit card trees…
Not a bad idea at all for adults. The trees I would need include a procrastination tree, a moodiness tree, and a back sassing tree