Teancom's Fingers

March 2007

Our little buddy has been sucking on his fingers since he was 2 days old.  Rob wasn't a fan of that, but you can't control little ones!  So he sucked on those fingers and was SO happy.  I think sucking on his fingers (while also rubbing his ears - it had to include the ear rub!) was his favorite thing to do in the whole world.  Fortunately he is also a very amiable child who aims to please.  So we slowly weaned him off those trusty fingers.  He couldn't do it in public places.  Then only in his bed.  Then only in his bed AND at bedtime.  He was not happy with all these changes, but his inability to break rules kept him on the straight and narrow.  He never once cheated.

Aug. 2007

This habit of his has had some negative consequences for him, though.  For many years, his hands have become painfully dry during the winters.  I realized pretty quickly that it was because he sucks on his fingers for half the night.  We bought stronger and stronger lotion for him, but alas, nothing helped much.  His fingers still cracked and bled everyday for months.  This last year, his hands became scarred.  If you looked close, you could still see the discoloration through the Fall months!

March 2008

So when it started getting colder and drier in late November-ish, Tank started complaining about his hands.  I had a little talk with him and explained that the only way to stop the pain was to stop sucking on his fingers.  He listened and then we dropped it.  Those fingers are his friends in a way that I don't understand.  I don't want to force him to stop:  There are lots of things that aren't the best for me that I don't want to give up.

Jan. 2009

So imagine my shock and surprise when just a few weeks ago, during a long and boring car ride, I suggested that Tank could suck on his fingers if he was bored, and he said to me, "No."  That boy has NEVER turned down an opportunity to suck on those delicious fingers.  I asked him why and he said, "I don't want to."  Later on, I asked to look at his hands (staying on top of lotion application has been a winter ritual for years), and they looked great.  I told him so and he said, "It's because I stopped sucking my fingers, Mom."

Aug. 2009 - he'd been stung by a bee

WHAT?!

I was amazed and so, so proud.  He was able to see the long-term benefits, decide that it was worth it to stop a nearly 8 year long habit, and then he did it!  Do you know how hard that is to do?!  And he just quietly, happily, did it.  All on his own.

Those are the best parenting moments:  When your kids do all the work, and you get to just celebrate with them.  Happy day!

May 2010

FYI:  If you're in need of great lotion, try out Burt's Bees Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Creme.  Great stuff!