Blankies

Blankies. They're one of life's great comforts.

I had one when I was little and I hate to admit it....

(well actually, it doesn't bother me that much)

... but I even took it to college with me. Even uncomfortable glances from fellow students couldn't take me away from it. Unpopularity is a small price to pay for such succor and security as only a blankie can bring, I'll tell you that much.

That pink wonder was so beat up that every time I washed it I had to stuff the ragged batting back inside through one of the many patch jobs that had reopened. Sadly, it is no longer durable enough to even be held and it lies in a shrine upstairs in my attic along with some other childhood relics, now only revered from a healthy distance.

Luke has a blankie too. It is this blue blanket that he takes everywhere with him and he reminds me of Linus from Charlie Brown. He drags it all over the dirty ground and takes it with us when we go grocery shopping. I was never so careless with mine. He sleeps with it, he eats with it, he gets his diaper changed with it. I know I'll have to slowly shred it each time I wash it just so he doesn't end up taking it on business trips and the like.

Such an attachment could be genetic I'm afraid. The other day he even wanted to take it in to the tub with him when he was getting his bath.

I drew the line.

I was tired of washing it over and over again because he had to have it no matter what. (If you want to know how to feel like the worst parent ever...take a security blanket away from a two-year-old). He was reduced to an immediate fit of tears. I put it on the towel rack and assured him it would be there for him when he was clean and dry. He seemed resentful, but allowed me to hang it carefully on the rack and then began playing with his ducks. I watched for a few minutes to make sure he wouldn't try anything and then I went to put his dirty clothes in the laundry.

I'm sure you know the rest.





Yep, the all-powerful draw of the blankie was too much for him to handle and he HAD to have it in the tub with him. Hmm... this could be bigger than I thought.