Thumb Sucking: Your Advice

This is my boy.  As you can see, he sleeps with a little blankie-bear and he sucks his thumb--our own little Linus.  He began sucking his thumb as a baby, which, at the time, seemed really convenient since we no longer needed to worry about misplaced and dropped nuks.  If he wanted comfort, he simply popped his thumb in his mouth as required.  That was 5 years ago and my philosophy all along has been that he would stop sucking his thumb when he was ready.  I do not believe you can or should try to force this sort of thing on a child.  

Recently he has begun to develop an awareness that most kids his age do not suck their thumbs--he brought this up to me one night and we then spent some time discussing that he could stop sucking his thumb when he wanted and I would be happy to support him in whatever ways would help--so he made a decision to stop sucking his thumb basically during the day or in front of other kids, all on his own initiative, without any further help from me.  That was several months ago and he no longer sucks his thumb during the day--but does still at night, or when he is really tired.  

Then, on a recent visit with our dentist, as she was examining his permanent teeth coming in, she told me that she believes he will have perfect teeth (like his mama, I might add) that will not require orthodontic work--that is, if he stops sucking his thumb and soon.  His thumb sucking is already impacting his teeth growing in now and she encouraged us to work with him to stop.  

So, of course, Beeper and I discussed the fact that sucking his thumb may damage his beautiful new big boy teeth and that he might require braces later on and that it would be better if stops now, blahblahblah.  And he is such a conscientious child that with no further discussion, has since been trying not to suck his thumb at night--but the fact is that he just cannot seem to fall asleep unless he pops that damn thumb in his mouth.  So while he has reduced the amount of time he spends sucking it during our bedtime routine, every evening he will finally turn to me and ask, "Mommy, can I suck my thumb now?" (as if I personally have imposed a thumb-sucking moratorium) --and then once his thumb hits his mouth, he is out in 5 minutes or less.  Of course, I then slyly try to slip his thumb out of his mouth--which sometimes works, and other times he locks his arm up with the force of a world champion arm wrestler (in which case I leave it)--and I am sure his thumb is going back into his mouth during the night anyway....

So, my question to all of you mamas out there with thumb-suckers of your own, how have you handled this?  Any suggestions for how best to deal with it?  Is there anything you have found that works to support a child through making this sort of change in behavior and habit?  I hope it is clear that I am looking for a gentle approach to this--nothing punitive, nothing that will upset him--but I do want to help him and encourage him as I believe he has already decided for himself that he wants to stop sucking his thumb, but just cannot get past the falling asleep hurtle...so, give me your best advice.  I am eager to hear what you have found, tried and what you know.

Matchbox Monsters

Little itty bitty dotty boxes on the window sill.  Wonder what's in them? 

Why, hello there little monster.  Time for a nappie change?

Shhh...back to bed now for you and your little beastly friends....nightie night.

Yes, another project I have been at work on as part of that other project I cannot tell you about quite yet...vague enough for you?

Read This: The Monsterologist

Do you have a budding monsterologist in your home?  If so, this book is required reading.  It is The Monsterologist: A Memoir in Rhyme written by Bobbie Katz and illustrated by Adam McCauley.  This was a birthday gift to our own resident monsterologist in training, and it has been looked at and thumbed through and carried around so much it is beginning to get a little loosey-goosey in the spine.  The book is comprised of 23 rhymes about all manner of monsters.  The illustrations are at once richly detailed, while being both gothic and modern--and did I mention marvelous?  

The whole gamut of monsters are covered in this book--everything from the traditional (vampires, werewolves, witches) to the classical (Medusa, Kraken) to those made popular in movies (Godzilla, King Kong), and even the modern-day monsters you might have suspected but never named (the suds-surfing sock eater, the compu-monster).

It reads like a recently discovered scrapbook and research journal of a famed monsterologist--which includes a notes and artifacts from the likes of Dracula (you'll find that I'm a genial host, but at times I think I'll burst, unless I drink a bit of blood to satisfy my thirst) that appear to be taped into the book, a survey of zombies which can be unfolded from its envelope (do you consider yourself an equal opportunity eater?), and other surprises to be discovered through gatefold pages and sneak-peek die cuts revealing information about a given monster.

 The book is clever, a bit silly (just enough to resonate with the elementary school set), and so much fun to read and look at.  Perfect just in time reading and inspiration for Halloween. 

(And yes, Beeper has already declared that he wants to be a scientist who practices in the area of monsterology when he grows up.)  

The Bitty Bow Wow

I guess the Bitty Bow Wow was inevitable.  What with there being Bitty Bebes and Bitty Birdies, it was only a matter of time until the dog popped into being.  I'm not even so much a fan of dogs, but something this teenyweeny, with a little red lolling tongue and blue patch over one eye, well, I guess it is sorta cute in that sugary candy all gritty between your teeth sort of way.  Littlest Pet Shop, meet your handmade competition.

(oh, and did I mention some of these will be showing up in my shop sometime before the holidays [and did I mention the holidays in September?  Yep--I did.  Sorry about that but a girl's gotta have some lead time when hand making toys like I am my own personal Santa's workshop]?  And also, this is part of a secret project I cannot tell you more about quite yet...patience, young grasshopper.)

Bookmark Thank Yous

Designed some bookmarks that will be a nice little something extra to enclose with purchases from my shop.  Just because a bookmark is handy and so much better than a business card (in my book--ahem, pun intended).  Overnight Prints printed them up for me, if you must know.

Also, it was about time to order some more mini cards from Moo--so I did that too.  (love the mini cards--charms me every time--their littleness, the mere slice of a photo, the little box they come packaged in, the oh-so-finite space on the back for whatever messaging you have...).  These work as my business cards when I need them-- but mostly I order them because they please me.

Anyone out there have their own creative business card solutions?  Or your own lovely way of saying thank you to customers?  Do tell.

End of Summer Cabin Days

(Lake Vermillion Beach Scene)

(Super Hero Sand Castle with Moat)

(Ludlow's Island)

(Beeper's Catch of the Day)

(Vanilla Vodka Lemonade with a View and Lake Shoreline)

(Little Angelfish)

(Black-Eyed Susan)

(Boathouse)

(Running Jump from the Dock)

(FlipFlops and Beach Grass)

(Sandcastle City and Mr Floatie)

(Blue Skies and Lake)

(Rolling Down the Hill)

(Full Canoe)

(Kid's Craft Play Boat)

(Flying a Kite)

(Best Friends on the Boat)

(Found Treasures)

(Prosecco on the Porch)

(Floatie Fun)

Some photos from our now annual summer's-end week at Ludlow's Island on Lake Vermillion in the northern reaches of Minnesota.  Ludlow's is the perfect blend of old authenticity and natural beauty paired with just a bit of luxury.  And the staff there are lovely--doing the little extra that makes it all work (like boating over a bottle of maple syrup to the cabin in the morning when we had hot pancakes ready but discovered we had no syrup to go with them).

 It is a full week of swimming, lounging outdoors all day, dinners at a picnic table overlooking the lake at sunset, s'mores in the fieldstone fireplace each night, and just the right amount of activity and doing nothing for big and little people alike.  This is our third year at Ludlow's and we will probably go back every year now for the rest of our lives--starting our own family tradition.   Oh, and if you are really into the photos, there are more here for you to check out.

Joining Ohdeedoh's Big Blog Family: Thanks Katie!

That Katie of the clever Matsutake fame and now a regular contributor to Ohdeedoh is such a peach.  She has just put up the most lovely blather about me and Chez Beeper Bebe on Ohdeedoh as part of their Big Blog Family series.  I am so flattered, and even a little gobsmacked, really.

And if you are visiting here from Ohdeedoh for the very first time, well, welcome.  Come on in.  Have a seat in that chair over there, put your feet up and let me get you a cup of tea, or a cocktail, if you are of the same mind I am.  Feel free to look around the place at your leisure and try out some of my projects or recipes, and by all means, tell me what you think because I would love to have a little tete à tete and know all about anything that might be on your mind.  Visitors are always welcome around here.  Especially visitors who are sent by Katie and her pals over at Ohdeedoh.

Oh, and the rest of you, you know those of you who are regulars around here?--you know who you are.  Anyway, you are always welcome here too--help yourself to the wine, grab a snack, and settle in for the afternoon.  Friends around the place always make it a little warmer.

And if you have a minute, please check out Katie's write up on Ohdeedoh--you can find it here.