Gleek has blankies. She has had blankies ever since she was 9 months old and began carrying around the pink thermal receiving blanket that we recieved as a gift. Being foresighted and intelligent, I bought several more of exactly the same type. That way we had 4 blankies and I could wash some while she carried others. Then I noticed that she was carrying her blankie around by the satin tag. That one spot on the blankie was getting dirty and I could tell it would wear out fast. So I cut off the tag and sewed four pink satin ribbons on to the corners of each of her blankies. Then she had lots of ribbons to rub against her face while she snuggled. All was well. The blankets were dragged, spilled upon, vomited upon, left outside, and generally mistreated for years. When Gleek was almost 3 I noticed that all of the blankies were showing signs of serious wear. Gleek was still extremely dependent upon them. So I bought 3 new pink thermal blankies and sewed new ribbons onto the corners. Gleek happily adopted these new blankets and cheerfully let me get rid of the battered ones.
That was two years ago. The “new” blankies have been dragged, spilled upon, vomited upon, bled upon, left outside, used as capes, used as bags, and generally mistreated. They are faded and fraying. Gleek still sleeps with them every night. She is smart enough now to know that there are three and if at all possible will carry around all three of them simultaneously. This means I can’t always have one clean, but it triples the likely hood of being able to find one at bedtime. Gleek has grown up some too. We no longer take blankies to church, friends’ houses, or school. She accepts that they are only for at home. I see no reason to deprive her of this small scrap of security before she is ready to abandon them herself. Especially since I regularly see how the possession of a blankie allows her to gain possession of herself and her feelings.
For years I’ve had a secret. See when I bought those three new blankets? I actually bought four blankets. The fourth one sat in the top of the closet for “just in case.” I’m not sure what the case was that I was waiting for. I think originally I was concerned about reducing the number of blankies from four to three. After that, I forgot it was there. Periodically I’d clean out that closet and find it. Every time I’d stare at it, consider getting rid of it, decide not to decide, and put it back.
Yesterday all four kids had a romping game of hide and seek all over the house. They had a blast. I was busy and not paying much attention until Gleek came down to me wide-eyed. She was holding a plastic package. She knew exactly what it was. It was a brand new vibrant pink version of the faded and worn blankies she carries around every day. She stared at me with wide, hopeful eyes. I opened the package and gave it to her to keep. Today she came down with stomach flu and one of the kind TLC things I did for her was to sew ribbons on the four corners of her new blankie. It looks so strange and bright bundled up in her arms with the worn out ones. It may be a tactical error. Now one of her blankies is obviously different than the others. I may have an upset Gleek demanding that I search the house for the NEW one. But She was so soft and sick today and she loves it so much. I’ll have to try to remember that if we ever come to a frantic search.
They don’t always get rid of them as they grow. My brother had a stuffed bear, which I believe he named Dog. It’s still at home, I think, or sitting on his bedhead, and he’s what, 23? I think he finds it’s very existence comforting.
They don’t always get rid of them as they grow. My brother had a stuffed bear, which I believe he named Dog. It’s still at home, I think, or sitting on his bedhead, and he’s what, 23? I think he finds it’s very existence comforting.
Maybe you could find a couple more and sew ribbons on them? And then keep them where you can find them…
Maybe you could find a couple more and sew ribbons on them? And then keep them where you can find them…
I still have my “blankie” but I never considered it that way. But then I never carried it around either. My Aunt Mary Jane made me a pink and white granny square afghan. It generally stays in a drawer but when it was just me it would lay across the foot of my bed.
I sometimes wish she had made me one of the black, white and rainbow afghans instead like my older sisters got but I’m very different from them so I can understand why she didn’t.
I still have my “blankie” but I never considered it that way. But then I never carried it around either. My Aunt Mary Jane made me a pink and white granny square afghan. It generally stays in a drawer but when it was just me it would lay across the foot of my bed.
I sometimes wish she had made me one of the black, white and rainbow afghans instead like my older sisters got but I’m very different from them so I can understand why she didn’t.
Aw, man. I’m in love with Gleek now. That’s so sweet.
Aw, man. I’m in love with Gleek now. That’s so sweet.
I love your foresight! And you’re so NICE, too! I probably would have said, “This new one is for when you are ALL BETTER!” 🙂 Not wanting it to get ruined while she was sick.
I’ve heard of people cutting the favorite blankets into smaller and smaller pieces so the child could carry it in his pocket as he got older… My children’s blankets have been patched MANY, many times by a loving grandma. 🙂
I love your foresight! And you’re so NICE, too! I probably would have said, “This new one is for when you are ALL BETTER!” 🙂 Not wanting it to get ruined while she was sick.
I’ve heard of people cutting the favorite blankets into smaller and smaller pieces so the child could carry it in his pocket as he got older… My children’s blankets have been patched MANY, many times by a loving grandma. 🙂
LightningBoy had his mint green thermal blankie from babyhood. I did all I could to keep it alive for as long as I could… but, even after crocheting around the edges to keep it together and that edging coming off because of disintigration we finally put it away in a Bionicles container. He then moved on to carrying around a stuffed Bunny and wearing an orange hardhat everywear we went. (I was actually a little sad when the bunny/orange hat era ended… it was cute and endeared him to everyone he met.)
Every time we find the blanket canister, we look at it all misty eyed.
I even crocheted a little blankie for his stuffed animals that looks like his old blankie.
Good times, good times… now he’s nine and likes to keep small stuffed animals in his pockets when we go to church, and sleeps with about 5 different stuffed animals in his bed with him.
LightningBoy had his mint green thermal blankie from babyhood. I did all I could to keep it alive for as long as I could… but, even after crocheting around the edges to keep it together and that edging coming off because of disintigration we finally put it away in a Bionicles container. He then moved on to carrying around a stuffed Bunny and wearing an orange hardhat everywear we went. (I was actually a little sad when the bunny/orange hat era ended… it was cute and endeared him to everyone he met.)
Every time we find the blanket canister, we look at it all misty eyed.
I even crocheted a little blankie for his stuffed animals that looks like his old blankie.
Good times, good times… now he’s nine and likes to keep small stuffed animals in his pockets when we go to church, and sleeps with about 5 different stuffed animals in his bed with him.
With my little Blueeyes it was the Squirrel Blanket. We carried this white blanket and a small pillow with the Mickey Mouse Pillowcase back and forth to school every day for over two years. Other children let you leave the blanket and pillow for school atschool. Not my boy, oh no. Couldn’t sleep without it.
Strange thing is, that silly ol’ pillowcase was not first-generation. Originally, it belonged to my oldest nephew – he who turns 21 next month. I have patched it, and patched it, until the poor thing has nearly given up the ghost. We’ve pulled it from circulation, finally (thank goodness he loves his new Spider-Man pillowcase!), and it now has pride of place on a peg on his wall, holes, patches, and all. The sweetest thing is that I’ll catch him touching it sometimes – although he never pulls it from the peg for fear he’ll cause it to finally disintegrate (poor 20-year-old thing!).
The blanket.. well, it’s disappeared somewhere – but thankfully, not until he had nearly let go of it on his own! He broke away from it, finally, when my dad went into to the hospital on a trip up there, and my grandmother brought him home to me with nothing but the clothes on his back. It’s never been seen since; I hope we can find it when I go for a visit at Thanksgiving. There’s another peg waiting for it’s stained squirrelly self…
With my little Blueeyes it was the Squirrel Blanket. We carried this white blanket and a small pillow with the Mickey Mouse Pillowcase back and forth to school every day for over two years. Other children let you leave the blanket and pillow for school atschool. Not my boy, oh no. Couldn’t sleep without it.
Strange thing is, that silly ol’ pillowcase was not first-generation. Originally, it belonged to my oldest nephew – he who turns 21 next month. I have patched it, and patched it, until the poor thing has nearly given up the ghost. We’ve pulled it from circulation, finally (thank goodness he loves his new Spider-Man pillowcase!), and it now has pride of place on a peg on his wall, holes, patches, and all. The sweetest thing is that I’ll catch him touching it sometimes – although he never pulls it from the peg for fear he’ll cause it to finally disintegrate (poor 20-year-old thing!).
The blanket.. well, it’s disappeared somewhere – but thankfully, not until he had nearly let go of it on his own! He broke away from it, finally, when my dad went into to the hospital on a trip up there, and my grandmother brought him home to me with nothing but the clothes on his back. It’s never been seen since; I hope we can find it when I go for a visit at Thanksgiving. There’s another peg waiting for it’s stained squirrelly self…