We actually have an ultrasound of Charlotte sucking her thumb in utero. When she was born she never enjoyed the pacifier- she went directly to that left thumb. Everything that I have read about thumb sucking strictly warns against any power struggles with thumb sucking, it has to be the kids decision to stop.... or they wont... plus all kinds of long term psychological damage and whatever.
So I have never said anything about it, but set it up about a year ago when she wanted her fingernails painted. "That would be fun Charlie! We could paint them bright pink. But you know... you cant suck your thumb if your nails are painted." Immediately she decided that she did NOT want them painted, not even for hot pink, hot pink with sparkles.
So I have just been letting it ride. She will bring it up every once and a while out of the blue to myself or random strangers, "I can't paint my fingernails, cause I still suck my thumb." I know how badly she wants her nails painted, she notices every women who has her nails done, looking longingly at them. So when she announced to me on our ride home. "Mama, guess what... I am done sucking my thumb! Now I can paint my nails!" I was shocked.
We painted them as soon as we got home. They were a beautiful shinny hot pink, and she loved them. Showing all her dollies, constantly adoring them. Until bedtime. I was tucking her in and snuggling with her during our stories and watched her on at least 10 occasion come within millimeters of sticking that outstretched left thumb in her mouth. But each time at the last minute, she would yank it back immediately. She was trying SO hard, it was killing me! After I left she made it about 5 minutes. And I heard from the bedroom a sad cat-like whine, "Mama, I don't want my pretty pink fingernails anymore." Not crying but with tear filled eyes we removed them together, and I told her I was really happy that she tried, and REALLY happy that she told me and didn't just sneak and suck her thumb when I wasn't looking.
So she went to bed with plain nails, but as happy as a clam. A clam with a thumb in her mouth... a thumb in her mouth and teeth in the shape of her left thumb.
So I have never said anything about it, but set it up about a year ago when she wanted her fingernails painted. "That would be fun Charlie! We could paint them bright pink. But you know... you cant suck your thumb if your nails are painted." Immediately she decided that she did NOT want them painted, not even for hot pink, hot pink with sparkles.
So I have just been letting it ride. She will bring it up every once and a while out of the blue to myself or random strangers, "I can't paint my fingernails, cause I still suck my thumb." I know how badly she wants her nails painted, she notices every women who has her nails done, looking longingly at them. So when she announced to me on our ride home. "Mama, guess what... I am done sucking my thumb! Now I can paint my nails!" I was shocked.
We painted them as soon as we got home. They were a beautiful shinny hot pink, and she loved them. Showing all her dollies, constantly adoring them. Until bedtime. I was tucking her in and snuggling with her during our stories and watched her on at least 10 occasion come within millimeters of sticking that outstretched left thumb in her mouth. But each time at the last minute, she would yank it back immediately. She was trying SO hard, it was killing me! After I left she made it about 5 minutes. And I heard from the bedroom a sad cat-like whine, "Mama, I don't want my pretty pink fingernails anymore." Not crying but with tear filled eyes we removed them together, and I told her I was really happy that she tried, and REALLY happy that she told me and didn't just sneak and suck her thumb when I wasn't looking.
So she went to bed with plain nails, but as happy as a clam. A clam with a thumb in her mouth... a thumb in her mouth and teeth in the shape of her left thumb.
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