Security Brought on by Blankets via Daily Prompt: Blanket

When you become a parent, you give up the rights to many things. Six years ago I gave up ownership of a blanket.

The blanket was a Christmas gift from my Secret Pal. I liked the blanket. It was festive and cozy. My two year-old liked it more.

As I was 8 months pregnant at the time, I couldn’t chase her very well when she ran away with it. I was too round and too nauseous to run. I really didn’t put up much of a fight.

She sure loved that blanket. It went everywhere with her. It made her feel safe in any situation and comforted her when she was sick or exhausted. That blanket provided a lot of security for my little girl.

Today that blanket continues to be her traveling companion and provides needed comfort often. It also makes a great foot warmer when she is playing on her tablet. 🙂

 What is it about a blanket that provides us with comfort?

Many of us have that one special blanket that softened our childhood. It provided security when we felt scared and soothed us when we needed consolation. Security blankets and leaving them behind are rite of passage.

When I was little I didn’t carry around a blanket. I had a frilly, silk pair of underwear that I loved. Yup, underwear. Today not many little girls have silk underwear with lace sown across the back, but in the early 1980’s a few of us still donned them. I didn’t wear the silky underwear though. I held them between my fingers as I sucked my thumb. Sounds pretty cute right? Well, eventually it wasn’t cool to carry around a pair of underwear or suck my thumb, so I moved on, but we don’t all have the luxury of outgrowing our security blankets.

 Did you have a security blanket?

When my son was born, his godmother gave him a sweet, snuggly blue blanket with his name embroidered on it. The blue blanket wasn’t a big one. It was a small, square fleece with sateen border. It had just the right-sized tag for my little guy to wrap his finger in and he rarely went anywhere without it. One day when he was 2 1/2, we had multiple doctor and pharmacy appointments for his ear infections. It was a rough day. It only got rougher that night when we realized blue blankey was gone!!!! I called and drove back to all of our stops the next day. No blankey was to be found. My mom lovingly made him a new one, but it was just never the same.

 Have you ever lost your security blanket?

My daughter still seeks refuge in her polka dotted blanket. My son moved on to a bigger, blue blanket (He stole it from my mother-in-law).

In life we all have things that give us comfort. While we don’t all have blankeys to ease our minds, we can each enjoy a special spot, lucky sweatshirt, or stuffed toy that transports us to our happy place.

If you find that you are in search of a calming moment, embrace your “security blanket” and feel gratitude for the person, place, or thing that helps ground you and protect you from the negativity in the world. Blanket yourself with hope, happiness, and healing as you savor the safety and security of the things you can rely upon.

By: Melanie A. Peters

P.S. If you have ever found a 12″x12″ royal blue, fleece blanket with sateen trim and the name “Tristan” embroidered in green, please contact Melanie A. Peters. There is a reward for its return.