Jo has mostly given up her bellybutton ritual, but we now have a new, wacky soothing routine in our house. First thing in the morning, last thing before bed, and at various other times of the day, Opie will approach and demand, “EAR!” This means he would like to grab someone’s ear (he’s not even picky about whose, but his own is usually his last choice) and, well, fondle it. That word gives me the creeps but it is what he does. Mostly he likes to squeeze the ear until it’s all collapsed and folded. Yes, this hurts.
He does this to me, to his father, to his sister and even to his friends at school. Jeff cannot stand it but everyone else is surprisingly accepting. Depending on his mood and level of tiredness, this goes on for a few seconds or a few minutes, until he’s satisfied his fix or until his victim reaches his or her limit.
Kids are weird.
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I think it’s wonderful that you’re so in tune to your children’s rituals, and that you don’t try to shame them out of the habits. That dentist in the thumb-sucking post sounded like a real tool. I hope his own kids if he has them now suck their thumbs, chew their nails and more.
I have to admit I’ve never heard of an obsession quite like Opie’s though!
Weird is right.
LOL! Weird, yeah, but kind of awesome too.
Hey! Everyone needs their “thing”, but leave it to your kids to come up with something far more interesting than lame thumb-sucking or hugging on some tired lovey– Pfff! Amateurs!
That’s quite the unusual one. Maybe his next toy should be a plush elephant, to give your ears a break!
Nothing wrong with it.
My daughter Dylan (from when she was a tiny baby) loved to rub the skin on people’s necks. It used to drive me nuts. She finally outgrew it. My husband still misses it.
I will offer up my kids’ ears. I love Opie, but I can’t stand anyone messing with my ears.
Here’s hoping “fondle” doesn’t get you too many odd searchers.
My cousin used to do that, and he turned out totally fine.
Also – he used to bite the heck out of kids, so you guys are way ahead of the game. No worries!
My son Andrew has a finger fetish. Started as a newborn and hasn’t stopped. He loves to squeeze people’s fingers and really wants/needs it around bedtime or when he’s relaxing in your lap. Sometimes it drives us all crazy! I agree. Kids are weird.
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