We all have those unforgettable childhood moments—some heartwarming, some funny, some maybe even a little embarrassing. As kids, we experience life with curiosity and wonder, often leading us into quirky habits or routines. For babies, especially those around 6 months old, everything revolves around the oral stage, where every object seems to end up in the mouth. This phase is a discovery journey, a way to figure out what’s edible and what’s not.
I went through this phase too, though it lasted for me until I was around five. My thumb was my comfort, and so was a little pillow I took everywhere. That pillow had this unique, cozy smell that made it impossible for me to sleep without it. But whenever my mom washed it, the scent would disappear, and I’d struggle to fall asleep, unable to feel the same sense of comfort. Recently, I came across something that took me right back to those days: Portobello mushrooms. After dehydrating a pack, I realized the aroma was oddly reminiscent of my old pillow. Just that earthy, familiar scent brought a wave of nostalgia! Shitake mushrooms didn’t do it, but the Portobello ones? Absolutely. Now, I catch myself sniffing them whenever I walk by the kitchen. Hahaha.
I also had a habit of playing with the pillow's strap. I’d knot it and press it against my fingertip, a soothing yet slightly painful ritual that left my nails ridged over time. Eventually, the strap got dirty and turned black, which drove my mom crazy. She'd wash it secretly, and I’d once again struggle with the “wrong” scent, unable to sleep comfortably.
And then there was the thumb-sucking phase, which lingered until I was five. When people asked what it tasted like, I’d say, “Like strawberries.” That habit, though, started shifting my mouth slightly forward over time. My brother, seeing this, decided to “educate” me with a warning, complete with a crooked-thumb illustration. “If you keep doing that,” he told me, “your thumb will sprout another branch!” Naturally, I believed him completely, as any little sibling might.
Fate intervened when I injured my thumb while playing with my toys, leaving a small line on it. Somehow, that injury was enough to make me stop completely. Looking back, it’s funny how these little experiences left such an impression and a lasting memory.
