I am Michelle D. Carter

I wrote this post a little over a year ago. Andy finds comfort in sucking his thumb. I didn’t mind it too much at first because I know it is something that little kids/babies will do. Then it became a constant. I think his thumb was permanently attached to his mouth only coming out long enough to put food in it. And as the gap in his teeth grew, enough was enough. After many attempts, we HAD, yes HAD, to put the appliance in his mouth. Approximately three or four months after he broke it, we HAD, yes HAD, to put it BACK in.

After six to eight months and the impending move to South Carolina, we decided to have the appliance removed again. It was supposed to be a fresh new start. He was doing great. There wasn’t any thumb sucking. We would congratulate him but not too often as we didn’t want to remind him of it either. All was well!

The move was stressful on all of us. However, about three or four weeks of school, Andy had reached his breaking point and the thumb sucking has resumed. I can’t begin to tell you how frustrated, pissed off and utterly disappointed I am. All that effing work down the tubes. His teacher has told me that he pretty much sucks it constantly at school. It’s only when he looks at her AND SHE SHAKES HER HEAD NO that he finally takes it out. Last week at gymnastics, I saw him suckling away. I am in the balcony behind glass and unable to yell at him to stop! My heart drops and I feel like such a failure.

While it may seem that I am a heartless bitch, I AM NOT! Repeat, I AM NOT A HEARTLESS BITCH! Yes, I am upset that we haven’t been able to completely kick this horrid habit. I am mostly saddened that Andy has recommenced his thumb sucking to console himself. That the poor little guy has done his best to cope with all that his parents have thrown at him and to deal with it… well, a little thumb sucking is needed. He is not a bad kid secretly inflicting chaos on his parents. He is adjusting to a major upheaval in his life the best way he can.

It broke my heart when he asked his Dad, “When are we moving back home?”

As the weight of the world rests on this little six year-old boy, he chooses to find comfort the only way he knows how. It IS better than taking out his aggression on the neighborhood animals.

But what am I going to do? The thumb sucking will cause bedlam with his teeth and speech. Something we are already struggling with. If I have the appliance re-installed, it will affect his speech as well. Not to mention having to watch him eat with the damn thing in his mouth. The best one to watch is a nice fresh peanut butter sandwich – eewww!

Now where is the instruction booklet on this kid?!??!!!