Monday, March 9, 2009

Joseph says good-bye to a good friend

This is Joseph at 15 months with his "bear blankie" and "favorite one." He only sucks his thumb with his blankie while holding on to his favorite long tassle.

While we were at the dentist a couple of weeks ago, she mentioned to me that Joseph's thumb sucking would really start to mess up his teeth when he starts losing his baby teeth. Then later that day, he was sucking his thumb with his blankie in front of the TV, when he said, "Remember, Mom, when the dentist told me sucking my thumb would hurt my teeth? I don't need this." and he took his blankie to his room. Needless to say, I was impressed, but I didn't really think it would last. I washed his blankie that day and found it the laundry after my Dad had put him to bed. Never has he gone to bed without his blankie in his 4 years of life! Joseph hasn't spoken a word about it since.

Talk about the power of suggestion! It's inspiring to me, really, how he's quit cold turkey because his blankie was such a comfort item to him. He used to beg for it when he was upset. But he made a conscious decision and stuck to it. I think he gets that from his Dad. On the other hand, my Mom was teasing me that now begins the the time of his life when every other adult's opinion matters more to him than his parent's. That doesn't sound fun.

So good-bye old friend! I won't miss washing you, tripping over you and trying to locate you. But as proud as I am of my big boy, I will mourn the loss of this little boy era.

11 comments:

Emily said...

Oh such a cutie!!! I swear, those dentists know everything. Any time I have a habit I want Easton to break I'm going to take him to the dentist. What a big boy. It is cute to think about him just deciding to be done with it. I just love him!

Okay now I want to see both of those movies and I'm so glad because every weekend we are looking for something to watch and find NOTHING!

Of course Darren liked Penelope...he has a big fat crush on Christina Ricci!
Thanks for the suggestions!

J.Frey said...

Wow! I am impressed. Both of my kids have blankets, but only anna sucks her thumb. I'm not looking forward to going through that battle with her. Hopefully she will be as cooperative as Joseph was!

Jonathan and Michelle said...

Good job Joseph, we are proud of you and I'm really impressed!

Breanne said...

That is so cute but so sad. Good for him for making the decision. It's sad when they start to grow up.

kelsey said...

Wow. That's so impressive!

Ben & Diane said...

Holy cow! I can't believe it was that easy. Mia is very much at that age too. very aware of what doctors and dentists and teachers say. They just trust them. I love it. I'm gonna have the doctor tell Mia that she should always eat all of her dinner ;) I miss you too. We should talk soon.

rose said...

oh that's so sweet! and super impressive- if only it were that easy to break habits, huh! you'll have to put that blanket away in a very special place.

Carol and Bruce said...

I am so proud of Joseph and happy for you, it is a little sad when those changes happen though. I can't believe he is going to be five, that just feels so big and it makes it seem like letting go of his blanket happened at a good time.

Anonymous said...

What a sad and cute post! He's growing up.
I remember the dentist telling me and Caroline that we had to stop sucking our thumbs. Way to go Joseph, I am so impressed! Cold turkey is tough!

Our dentist and mom finally made a deal with us that if we stopped we could each pick out a really nice doll "that you just look at" at the drug store. If we didn't, we had to give the dolls to his twin girls that we knew and weren't about to lose them to.

Jill said...

what a committed kid! and I was thinking the same thing as your mom. :)

PS: the video of the kids and the necklace is quite cute.

Katie said...

Wow, I wish I could get Lexi to stop that easily. I havn't even taken my kids to the dentist yet, does that make me a bad mom?