It Sucked.

 I was a thumb-sucker.

When I was a little girl I sucked my thumb any time I was relaxing. It was comforting and as natural to me as breathing.

At the time there were five siblings. My younger sister and one brother also sucked their thumbs.

Many babies suck their thumbs. They usually stop by the time they are toddlers.

Because we were showing no sign of stopping Mom decided to try to help.

She bought a small container of anti-thumb-sucking liquid. In the lid was fastened a small applicator brush. The thumb was supposed to be covered with the liquid at nap time and before bed at night. It was bitter and hot.

I did not like it. I would go unto the bathroom and wash it off. My brother simply defiantly put his thumb in his mouth and sucked it anyway. I do not remember what my sister did but she still sucked her thumb. Mom kept applying the stuff as directed.

One day as Mom was vacuuming she bumped the television. The liquid was sitting on top and for some reason the lid was not on tight.  It fell over and spilled. It ate the varnish off the TV. Mom was horrified. She threw it out. That was the end of that stuff.

When I was 4 years old I knew I would be starting school in the fall. I also knew that I would be teased for sucking my thumb. I decided the time was now to stop. It was not easy.

Eventually I was only doing it at night. I made up my mind to sleep with that hand under me. It worked!

I have not sucked my thumb since then. I remember how comforting it was but of course I do not miss it.