> Meanwhile, our relationship grew more acrimonious. He clearly no longer trusted me and this was beginning to poison all our interactions.
> Finally, I had this moment where I felt that my efforts to ramp up the pressure to force him to stop had crossed some line. I felt I was turning into an abusive parent.
#$@#%?!??!
What the hell is wrong with this person? It's hand-licking. The child isn't sticking forks in outlets or punching teachers. Laugh at it if you can't figure it out and get on with your lives.
> I was a young homemaker, financially dependent on my husband, and I was feeling enormously pressured by both of these people. I also felt they both had real careers and didn't genuinely respect me. They both felt it was my job and mine alone to somehow make my son stop licking his hands entirely.
This also sits really weirdly with me. Doesn't matter who's working and who isn't: The child has two parents. Parenting is a collaboration. (If you feel disrespected as the non-working parent, that's something to be worked out between you and your partner, not your child.)