Both my kids have this thing called a security blanket, which is really a misnomer because it doesn’t provide much security at all.
Like if they were suddenly attacked by googly-eyed, baby-eating monsters in their sleep…
It’s not likely that this is going to happen.
If I were to choose a protective device against a monster attack, I’d choose something stronger like an adamantium shield or a force-field bubble. Heck, I’d even go with a large stick. Basically anything other than a piece of flannel.
But I get that the kids’ mental faculties are nowhere near as evolved as mine, so it’s really not their fault. And I’ve come to the conclusion that this whole security blanket is just all in their head. It’s got less to do with actual *security* and more with the mysterious mind-messing power of babysoft fabrics.
The moment you caress a baby’s face with a soft material like supersoft cotton or mink or satin or fleece, they go into the zone. Their eyes glaze over and all they can think about is “I like soft soft…” If they’re thumb-sucker or pacifier-addicts, they will instinctively reach for their sucker of choice. Even if they don’t suck anything, they will go into the stoning mode.
Armed with their security blanket, this is what they look like to us.
But to them, it looks entirely different.
Which works for us because we’re not about to mess with whatever helps them go to sleep. And honestly, we just need them to think that they’re safe because it’s our job to actually make sure they’re safe.
Now I just need to go find me-self an adamantium shield.
*Cute monster drawings by Siew, Child Label. Slightly less cute kid drawings by Daphne, Mother, Inc.
