Thursday, September 11, 2008

Thumbsucker

I have a little thumbsucker. Here he is in color AND in black & white.
So how do you get a child to stop sucking their thumb?
I sucked my finger (not my thumb) until I was in kindergarten. And for the life of me I'm not quite sure why I stopped. No one bribed me, put nasty tasting stuff on my finger or cut my finger off.
But it's so darn cute.
He also has the little ear tug thing going on. And because of the two combined he has done a perfectly splendid job of sleeping well from the time he was 6 weeks old. That, and the fact that we had him on a schedule. Oh, and I had to call my mom over one afternoon to watch Dawson so I could sleep because he wouldn't and she let him nap on his tummy..
What else?
Less than a month until the APPLE FESTIVAL where I buy one dozen maple bun bars and eat random selections of food until my belly button becomes and outy. Jason can't do that because his belly button already is an outy.
While I'm at it, I also need a bit more advice. For a any of you out there with very independent, strong willed children... This one is for you.
You know, I held Dawson while he slept as a baby. I cuddled, hugged, and gave him kisses.
Then he turned 2.
I made the "2" poop brown because that's how I feel.
I'm still at the stage where I feel guilty for working rather than being able to stay home with Dawson. So sometimes when I get home I just want to hold him in my lap or have him want my attention.
Instead, he wants to do his own thing!
"No Mommy" he says. no. no. no.
So then I force him.
"You will sit on my lap and you will like it."
Then he screams and wiggles and yells, I want my daddy!
So I make him go to bed. just kidding.
Will he grow out of this though? Pretty please?
Okay,
Verse of the day:
My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.
Pslam 62:1

9 comments:

jenn said...

only cool people suck their thumbs :). i think my parents tried to give me money to stop. i gave it back to them after 3 days. oh, but for public knowledge...i did eventually stop. apple fest already? i have never been. always seems too far away so eat some food for me :). love ya lots..m.e.

Leanne said...

Get the book "You Can't Make Me (but I can be persuaded)" by Cynthia Tobia. It's a fast read and it made a huge difference in how I interacted with my own "SWC."

The memory verse I use as my mantra is Gal. 6:9 Do not grow weary of doing good, for in due season you will reap a harvest if you do not give up."

There's also a forum page for parents of SWC's where you can vent or share success stories:

http://www.applestforums.com/forums/index.php

Your right - Dawson is soooo cute!

Jonzi said...

I do have an email - it is ash.nic.jones@gmail.com

Jonzi said...

I got it work! Tell me what you think =0)

♥Kelsey Kakes♥ said...

yeah...kirsten wouldn't stop sucking her thumb for quite some time...until about last year...j/k. i think my parents put vinager on her thumb and stuff, which didn't work (she sucked it right off) but then grnadma janke told her she'd pay to have her ears pierced. it worked for a while...then guess what we found kirsten doing again? i think last attempt to stop it all was when my parents bought her a scooter. crazy girl:) i think dawson looks cuter sucking his thumb, tho:) yeah...thats why i wanna be a stay at home mom...so my kids will autually WANT to do things with me.lol. hopefully the phase will go away tho!!!!! wow...this is LONG...

Anonymous said...

As a mother of TWO strong-willed children....I regret to say that there's no hope.. Just kidding. It helps to think of what powerful, strong leaders our kids will become someday--President of the US perhaps?

michelle said...

as a former finger-sucker as well (combined with a cloth diaper that i had to rub on my nose...and heaven forbid my mom wash it!) i have no advice. i now own, i mean, i now mother a pacifier monster and a thumb-sucker. i'm not too worried. i turned out ok. so i had to wear braces. no big deal. :-)
my now THREE year old daughter is strong willed as well. i don't know where she got that! sigh. like holly, i just try to think about all she'll be able to accomplish with a "wont give up" attitude. it's frustrating at times (MOST of the time) but i wouldn't change her for the world! and yes, since I work too, my kids actually sleep with me because i feel like i'm kinda making up for lost cuddle-time. sigh... prob not the best arrangement, but it works for me. (and my husband????? ha ha)

Dani said...

Ahh... it is so good to be back in blogger world. I missed you!

I have little advice for the thumb-sucking, other than he will grow out of it. I mean have you ever seen a grown man suck his thumb? You might not be able to get him to stop, but the kid making fun of him at school certainly will. :) Plus, he may do it for comfort or security or because it tastes good, and you wouldn't want to deny him that when he is so little.

Certain people have a huge fit when I admit this... but I too let Sydney sleep with us. It is the most wonderful thing ever -- I love it! I get all kinds of baby cuddling. I think it is my favorite time of the day, well the night I guess. :)

I really hope to see you soon!! Hacienda?

Kristin said...

I love reading your blogs. You are hilarious.