Mending

This is my son's nigh nigh. He is 7. All my children had a special blanket and so did I. Okay fine I still have mine, its under my bed safety tucked away because like my children's it is tattered and torn and loved.

I know that some feel that a child should let go of these special items but I just do not think it is that big of a deal. All four of my kids clamored on to a special blanket and I let them. It was routine, "get your nigh nigh its time to rest". They are torn and stained and worn from tears and joy, they were present when I was away and they kept us both warm when we rocked at night. They helped boo-boo's feel better and tummy aches seem not so bad. To me they are a beautiful symbol of childhood and well loved, they are comfort to them long after I have tucked them in.

Ash is the only one of the four who faithfully gets his each night and the only one I still mend. If I could find that fabric I would make him another. But really, he had two and they both look the same. They were a baby gift; one for him and his brother. Like many things Ash claimed both and Nolan found another. Nolan has one he really likes but he also has replacements that work just fine for him. Ash has the two and is faithful to them. So I mend, fixing the blanket, a tribute to the many times the blanket itself helped mend my child. Hoping they will hold out a little longer, as I hold on to the precious childhood of my youngest children; because I know too well, soon that too will be but a memory.