With Easter rapidly approaching, we are closing in on Jackson's self-set goal date of quitting his thumb habit. Yes, he is almost six and we have not been able to get him to stop.
We have been working on this for YEARS. We tried the foul-tasting no bite nail polish. He simply learned that he'd get used to the taste after a while. We did the toy rewards for increments of time that he went without it. We have shown him pictures of what could happen to his permanent teeth.
We've yelled. We've bargained. We have pleaded. No joy.
So, last week, we bought the T-Guard. (Jury is still out on this one...) Yesterday was the first day of use. Here is a recap:
There was a spectacular exhibit of will regarding putting it on...after which he exclaimed that it was pretty cool. Then, he was disturbed by the soap being stuck in it when he had to wash his hands, until I showed him the hole at the bottom for precisely that reason...and, I dried it with a Q-tip.
While cleaning up Legos, he realized he could use it to carry more Legos in his hand. Bonus!
After walking away from said cleaning (since I was repeatedly the sole cleaner), I went upstairs to take a shower. While getting in, I heard him begin to throw a fit. Unable to self-soothe, he screamed pitifully, "Can SOME-body heeeeelp me, please!" I rescued him this time.
At bedtime, he proudly showed Dada how he put it on like a big guy. Yet, it took almost an hour to get him to sleep because he "doesn't know how to fall asleep without Suck Thumb." Finally, after forever of me laying with him, using guided imagery of his future driving police cars, putting handcuffs on bad guys, and holding his weapon, I was able to help him fall asleep.
Unsolicited advice warning: give them the pacifier...we were so against it and now wish he wasn't addicted to a part of his body. Granted, I know there will be a day when there's a whole different obsession...
Perhaps we shouldn't have started this the day after Daylight Savings time? Oy.
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