Growing up I had a blanket I named "blankey". It had the best silk on it for thumb sucking. I carried my blankey everywhere. My Grandmother would try and throw it away, my my Mom always saved it from the trash bin. It was well loved. Then one day the Easter bunny took it away forever. I got blankey back when I was an adult. It now sits in a bin in my closet.
Ailyn's "blankey" is much different. She loves wet paper towels. This started when she was very young, around 1 years old. I remember the first few times I gave her one. She sat for over an hour playing with one.
Over the years her obsession has gotten worse. She will ask for a paper towel a few times a day. There is a ritual with it. She sits very content. It calms her down when she's overstimulated. If she is having a bad day, hand her a paper towel. If she is crying, hand her a paper towel.
Ailyn will chew it, then take it out of her mouth and roll it over and over. She does the same thing over and over.
This freaks most people out. I have to tell everyone she will not swallow or choke on it. I'm sure some think it's dangerous. But, honestly, it keeps her quiet and still for more than 10 minutes. I like that she found something to calm herself down. Ailyn never stops. Her mind is always working in fast forward mode.
(don't mind the booger, she's sick....again)
I wanted to blog about it so I remember this habit forever. I'm hoping she will move on to something else self soothing and not chew paper towels at 10 years old. I can recall laying on the couch with my blanket, thumb in my mouth. It was a calming feeling.
Cash is loving this habit too. It's been a struggle keeping him away from Ailyn. He will steal it right from her hands. Pooping out paper towels is not easy for Cash. He is getting better, but it's still an issue.
So when Ailyn rubs her hands together that means she would like you to wet a paper towel. It's nice being able to throw it away and get a new one each time. Less germs!
