The Security Blanket

Keely reunites with an old flame that had been hidden for years. Dusty and tattered from wear, she can still feel her heart jump up at the sight of him. Will Nora feel the same way?

I recently met up with an old flame. He hasn’t changed much since we parted ways; he still has those sweet eyes, that distinctive scent that I remember, the complete absence of a body…

I’m talking about my reunion with my bunny blanket lovie. He’s gone by many names – Bunny, Bubby, Buppy – but he was the only one for me. A Fisher-Price security blanket from 1980, he featured the very latest in blue vinyl button eye technology and simply the flimsiest pink plaid blanket that could possibly be attached to a head. All that remains of him is a threadbare face and the satiny outline of a body, but I’m thrilled beyond belief to have him back. (Thanks, Mom!)

My sixteen month-old Nora seemed to instinctively know that she was in the presence of a well-loved creature. Upon being handed Buppy, she immediately kissed his face to the mouth of her prized lovie, one Doc Bullfrog.

This got me thinking about security blankets and how far some parents will go to retain that security. Seeing how some of my friends and the families for whom I’ve nannied have gotten two or even three backup security blankets for their children, I was prepared to be prepared.

When I was nine weeks along with Nora, my husband P.J. and I took a trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. While there, I fell in love with the otters and their hilariously theatrical ways. As we exited through the museum’s gift shop, I saw a display of teensy otters attached to impossibly small blankies which proclaimed them to be “Baby’s 1st Otter.” (For the moment, let’s leave the question alone of How many otters is this baby expected to have?) I fell in love. And, as I am wont to do when I love something, I cried. A lot. So we bought an otter and named him Otto. This was to be our future kiddo’s lovie, of this I was sure.

When she was about three months old and began batting at random objects in her path, she more often than not gravitated towards Otto. Stoked at her first real object attachment, I called the Monterey Bay Aquarium and ordered another otter as a present for her upcoming baptism. (Because nothing says Life With Christ quite like a small stuffed otter.) Since this was clearly going to be her lovie, I needed backup. That way, I’d never Fail As A Parent. (Not special object-wise, anyhow.)

Except soon afterward, she grabbed hold of a green frog blankie – also among her possessions – and has yet to let him go. A Target lovie, NOT something that needed to be specially ordered and shipped. Something in that mass-produced little frog face spoke to her – but who am I to judge? I’m in love with a puppet head that used to resemble a rabbit.

Now, if only Carter’s didn’t immediately discontinue blankies from season to season, leaving frantic parents to bargain with eBay sellers (with hordes of “gently used” animals) for whopping price tags of forty bucks and upwards…

… But that’s a different Parenting Moment.

This entry was posted on Monday, March 14th, 2011 at 6:54 am. It is filed under Being Mama, Motherhood and tagged with Blankets, Development, Toys. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.