Blue Blankie

My 2 year old is Linus. He carries around his Blue Blankie everywhere he goes. It goes to school with him, to the park, to playgroup, to bed and on trips. I actually encourage him to take it to new places because he feels safe and doesn’t have anxiety if I leave him if Blue Blankie is there. Needless to say, the Blue Blankie is more like the Gray Blankie. I sneak it out of his bed at night to wash it but if he wakes up without it he freaks out until he gets it.

This weekend I decided to take a one-night trip away with my two boys. My husband was out of town and this would just be a short getaway. While I packed the car, the boys played with some legos. I didn’t have much to bring since it was only 24 hours. I put the bag and a cooler in the car and I was ready to go. But I couldn’t find Blue Blankie. I started combing the house from top to bottom. I still couldn’t find it. Every time I turned around the boys were taking out a new toy and I’m screaming, “NO, we are leaving in a minute!” So I put them both in the car and kept searching. An hour drive without Blue Blankie would be hell. And then tonight going to bed without Blue Blankie would be impossible. So I kept searching the house. Nothing. I retraced all our steps but still couldn’t find it. I went in the car and told my 2 year old, “I can’t find Blue Blankie.” He didn’t seem to mind, which was great, but I still worried about tonight when I have to put him to bed.

So I left the house without Blue Blankie. Forty minutes later than I planned. I arrived at my destination 1 hour later without any fusses. I pulled out our bag and unpacked the kid’s stuff and what was there, Blue Blankie! I had packed it first so it was at the bottom of my bag. Oh I was so happy -- much happier than my 2 year old because I didn’t have to deal with that extra hassle of no Blue Blankie tonight. So now I wonder who is really attached to the Blue Blankie, my 2 year old or me. With it our nighttime routine is easier for me. So maybe I’m the one with the Blue Blankie addiction because without my kid wouldn’t go to bed very easily (and he doesn’t anyway) so I encourage the blankie as a tool for me to get through the day and the night.