A special delivery arrived tonight. Back in May, I wrote about Will’s security blanket(s) and whether or not I should wean him off of them. I listened to you guys and my sister who questioned why the hell I would want to. And you’re right. They are his ‘thing’. Why would I ever take that comfort from him?
BUT. After close to five years of nearly constant use, these white fluffy blankies were grey, smelled funky and weren’t too soft. I took a shot and googled and there they were! So I ordered three new ones. Three beautiful, fresh smelling, soft new blankies. The old grey ones will be washed and stored, awaiting the inevitable nights when barfing will leave all the new ones in the wash at the same time. (I wish this picture could capture the extreme difference!!)
Laugh if you will, but I got a bit melancholy! These three remaining (the fourth had hot Italian sausage barf on it and I opted to chuck it) blankies have seen us through many a time. First day of daycare, first tooth, first movie at the theatre. They’ve comforted him through his first bloody nose, his first haircut and his first needle at the doctor. They soothe him when I can’t because I’m the one making him cry in the first place or when I’m away.
But blankie isn’t just for Will. Last fall I was having a ‘I want my mommy’ day and had collapsed on the couch in tears. My boy came up and said, ‘mama do you need a soft?’ and he started to rub blankie up and down my arm whispering, ‘it’s so soft mama, don’t cry.’ What a guy. I’ll admit that when I’m at home alone and he’s having a sleepover, I keep one of his blankies in my bed. It just makes me feel like he’s there…without the constant nattering.
So I’m typing this while Will is excitedly wrapped up in his three new blankies upstairs. He asked me how long he could have his blankies for. I said for as long as you want bud, you know, until you’re a grownup. His response, ‘oh awesome, until I’m at least six then!!!’
Slow down friend. Slow down and smell the blankies…the nice, new, fresh blankies!
Awesome. The soft…if anything can help with those moments, that’s gotta be it.
On a related note, I *STILL* have my first ever stuffy. I’m 43. So when they say, “she won’t go off to university with her teddy bear” – tell them they’re wrong. Because I did!
Yeah…the soft is pretty powerful!!!
Eva has a “blueblanket” which is a pink blanket with flowers. She named it when she was around 18 months old. Not sure why she called it blueblanket.
I have a spare should she ever need a new one.
If she has it forever I’ll be happy.
I loved that he recognized the power of the “soft” and offered it to you in your time of need for it. What a kid!
After my daughter had chosen her beloved “Molly” doll as her comfort toy they stopped making it but a search on EBay led us to a seller in Australia who sent 2 our way. She’s 12 yrs old now and we still have 1 extra hidden away.
i’m sure my oldest will be going to college with hers, too. i’ll just make it into a pillowcase or something 🙂