life is like a box of chocolates

according to Forest Gumps Mum,
and sometimes it really is.

our middle daughter (6, soon to be 7) has always had a complicated outlook on life (she is being assessed for Autism) and things have to be handled very carefully with her (think hand grenade with no pin!)
And so to the point, she sucks her thumb, has done from just a few weeks old, but now as she has lost one top tooth, with another wobbly one next to is and 2 new teeth coming through at the bottom - not to mention repeated episodes on TW - we have decided it is time to stop the habit.


Not like me really, I usually follow the path of least resistance when it comes to the kids and let them give things up when they are ready, and it hasn't caused any problems (see oh marvelous Health visitor, my almost 16, 7 and 3 year olds do not sleep in my bed, despite your doom mongering about 'rod for your own back'!)

and so after a lot of thinking, talking to other mums who have gone down this path, and of course discussion with middle child we ordered THUMBGUARDS from the states, they are available in this country but with the Dollar being so week I thought I would save us a few pennies, and I would have too if the meddling customs folks hadnt slapped a charge of £13.66 on the parcel grrrrrrr. And worse it was stuck in customs for 3 weeks, so the lovely preparation I had done with middle daughter had all been forgotten!

Anyhoo customs notice arrived Saturday, I collected it Monday, and attempted to get middle child to wear it on Wednesday ~ no chance!
So after a lot of chat and negotiation it was decided that Friday night would be the night, with great excitement the instrument of torture was applied (if you are interested she chose green and purple for her wrist bands, she sucks both thumbs so has to wear it on both hands!) and the evening commenced.

We had take away pizza, which she managed to eat without getting too messy. We watched a DVD and she got to stay up a good hour after her usual bedtime. poor mite didn't know what to do with herself as she normally sucks her thumb when watching TV, so she was a bit of a fidget.

Finally the time arrived, and with much fear of tantrums and crying and sleepless nights we put her to bed.

And the next thing I know is its 8am (an unheard of lie in!) and she has woken up from a peaceful thumbless night, very very pleased with herself.

like I say, life is like a box of chocolates ~ full of surprises!