Chance has a doggy blankie that he sleeps with every night. He has slept with this “lovey” since crib days. His Nina (Brian’s Mom) bought it for him even before he was born. It’s his security.
Last night, as we were tucking him into bed, we couldn’t find his doggy blankie. This is somewhat normal. He takes it out to the living room when he watches tv or into our room when he wakes up. But we looked in all the usual spots and couldn’t find it.
Finally, Chance says, “OH YEAH!” and pulls it out from under Paxton’s toddler bed (which has a bedskirt).
You see… we had friends over today. HE had friends over today.
I asked him, “Why did you hide your doggy blankie?”
Chance: “Because I didn’t want anyone to know I sleep with something.”
Me: “Were you embarrassed?”
Chance: “Yeah. I didn’t want them to make fun of me.”
Me: “Well, honey… We can tuck him away whenever you have friends over if you want.”
Here stood my five year old, with his LITERAL security blanket in his hand, admitting that at times, that same security blanket he knew his whole life could possibly be what threatened his security… at least in the eyes of his peers. What’s interesting is these specific friends have never been over and have never even said anything about lovey’s. But apparently, one of his friends did at one time.
I was ready to do whatever it took to help him find security in this situation. I agreed to help hide his doggy blankie whenever he needed, but inside… I died a little.
I knew this day would come. The day that my kids would feel like they had to hide a part of them from people. But I honestly didn’t think it was going to happen so soon.
Even with Brian and me being intentional in building security around our kids and making sure they know they are greatly loved as they are… the realization that the world is not safe for them is still very real and unstoppable.
