If Garrett could take the "Which Peanuts Character Are You?" quiz, he would undoubtedly come out as LINUS. If you are wondering why, you need to spend more time with the little mister, because anybody who has been around him for any extended amount of time knows of Garrett's fondness for his "blankie."
Greg's cousin's wife, Michelle, made Garrett this lovely fleece blankie before he was even born and Garrett LOVES the thing. He was given many other beautiful blankets and quilts which he likes, but nothing compares with this thing. I'm not quite sure why he's attached himself to it so much, but it's bordering on ridiculous. I've finally started leaving it in his crib and he only gets it at naptime/bedtime, but sometimes I forget and he grabs it before I get him out. If he's successful at getting it out of his crib, you can bet he'll be dragging it all over the house, just like LINUS!
Garrett dragging the blankie up the stairs at Grandma's house.
This was the morning I knew his obsession had gone too far. Look closely--he is sleeping and actually has one of the little fringes in his mouth!
Just playing with blankie!
He has a special little whimpering sound he makes only when he sees his blankie. I can be in the room and know when Garrett is playing with it because of the noise he makes. (I've yet to be successful catching this on video.) When he is tired, he takes the little fringe pieces on the end and rubs them over his face and makes the funniest little moan.
I've been somewhat concerned over his crazy attachment to his blankie and worrying he is going to be sneaking it to kindergarten like a wuss, but I read an article a bit ago in a parenting magazine and learned that Garrett's blankie is actually not just a blankie, but his "security object."
(I copied this from Answers.com--definitely a reputable source. :) I always loved it when my students would cite Wikepedia and Answers.com in their research papers.)
Attachment to a security object can be beneficial to a child. The security object may serve as a substitute for the parent in his or her absence and may assist separation from the mother or father by providing the comfort of something familiar. At bedtime, it can soothe and facilitate sleep. Studies have also shown that during a routine third-year pediatric examination, children allowed security objects were less distressed than children undergoing the medical evaluation without their security object. The comfort provided by a blanket in new situations has even been shown to enhance children's learning.
Go figure! Apparently Garrett's blankie attachment is a positive thing and we can send it to school with him after all. That's just great, because Michelle called us the other day to tell us she had found more of the fabric and bought about half of the bolt. Perfect--at this rate, we'll need a blankie for Scout Camp, college, his mission, and so on.
9 comments:
Carson still LOVES his blankie that we bought for him before he was born...the blue knit blanket with the silk edging....it has a few holes...has been to Father's and sons camp out, grandma's house and countless trips in the car...we do have a rule that the blankie has to stay in the car and can't be brought into public places...(so it doesn't get dirty of course...he HATES it when his blankie has to be washed...) it is the first thing he has to be covered up with when he goes to sleep....BUT it is all OK...he sucessfully has gone to Kindergarten without toting it along....it is just his security when he needs or wants it...he thanks me almost every night for buying it for him....gotta love our linuses!!!
I agree with the comfort and security! Ashlyn had to throw hers away on Jan 1, only becuase she would sit and suck her thumb. She does have a new one though that she likes, but not the thumb. I love the pictures of him with it in his mouth ~ priceless!! Everyone ~ young or old ~ should have some sort of comfort and there is nothing wrong with a blanket!
There's a children's book about a little boy who LOVED his blanket too. and when it came time for him to go to school they cut up the blanket into little squares, small enough it can fit into his pocket and he carried it to school with him. You may just have to do that with him.
It is quite adoreable when he moans over his blanket though.
I love Garrett's reaction when he sees his blanket. I wish he got that excited to see me! It is getting a little worn. I will be interested to see if he will accept another one made out of the same fabric. He is so cute!!
My brother, who is 30, still sleeps with his "blankie" from when he was a little boy!!
I LOVE it! That kid and his blankie seriously is the funniest thing! As I was reading this post when you were talking about the sound he makes- I could so hear it in my mind! Our little Linus is so cute!
Much to Jeff's dismay, I still sleep with my blankie :) I'm afraid Kaleb is the same way, we have so many blankets scattered around our house, that way he can rub the crocheted edge ob his cheeks whenever he may need it!
I know what you mean about the obsession. Tate has a burp cloth that he calls his "rag" (well, we called it that and now he does). It is the nastiest thing because he rubs it on himself when he gets his diaper changed and various other places..... We once lost it for an hour and I thought I was going to die of a heart attack...
All I can say is... :)
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