Tuesday 14 September 2010

Blue Polyester Spaghetti

I bought the blue blanket nine years ago. I waddled into Mothercare like a bulbous penguin – hot, huffy and in a hurry to find comfort for the baby who had yet to draw his first breath.

I took the blanket home and washed it. I dried it, sniffed it and folded it up with gleeful anticipation. I dreamt of wrapping it around the soft little body that was kicking and wriggling and growing inside me, as I waited and waited and waited …

Eventually he came out and so did the blanket. At first it gave him warmth; later it gave much more. Security. Friendship. Somewhere to hide his face and cry. A plaything to wrestle with in his cot, he held the blanket up and gazed at the sunlight through the woven holes. He twisted it, hugged it and wrapped it around his feet. He learnt to walk so then he could drag it, swing it and take it outside.

Oops the blanket has torn, but never mind because now we have two! Oops torn again, but where did the other piece go? The baby got bigger and tougher, his blanket got smaller and tattered. No longer needed, all that’s left of it is a scrap – a tired, tiny tangle of blue polyester spaghetti. I had to use scissors to get it out of his bottom drawer, because some of the more wayward threads had wrapped themselves like ivy around the other ‘special stuff’ that he wants to keep: a carnival whistle, a sports day medal, a Mr. Funny bookmark, glass-less glasses and a cornucopia of other childhood knick knacks with cherished memories attached.

Now my small boy prefers football to snuggling, but the remnants of his blue baby blanket will never be thrown away. Sometimes, at bedtime, we look at it and laugh like fellow conspirators, remembering the olden milky days with a knowing chuckle. We feel ever so grown up.

10 comments:

  1. I have all of "my" blankies safely tucked away. Fortunaterly my 7 year old takes his (small one) wherever he goes. It's a very bold red and blue design so not at all baby-ish thank goodness.

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  2. My great grandson has a blue blanket too. It started off as a full size cot blanket that he took the corner of, then he insisted on taking it everywhere with him. My grandaughter cut it in two so that he wouldn't trip over it as he toddled around. Now he takes it to play school. It's OK because he have two halves, one to hug and one in the wash. Aren't kids cute. This is what we love them for

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  3. Lovely post .. my cousin now a married man had a blankie .. a nudgie we called it . he carried it everywhere sort of like a taliman he rubbed it with the hand he didnt have the thumb of in his mouth.. his mom worried how would he go to school dragging that after him .. well she cut a small square of it so he could keep it in his pocket ... I did wonder the day he married if he had it with .. must remember sometime to ask .. sorry to shanghai your comments but you make me remember .. xo

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  4. My grandsons are in their teens and still have blue snugglies! Sort of secretly!
    Loved this nostalgic post.
    Good to see you back!
    Maggie X

    Nuts in May

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  5. My teenager still has a scrap of her 'softie' stored safely. And the 12 year old still has her 'blankie' in a safe place.

    I love this post. Sparked many memories:-)

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  6. Lovely post! I don't have any children but mum kept one of my blankets from when I was a baby and I used to use it for my dolls. I had to throw it out just a few years ago as it was darkened with age (washing it didn't help) and moths had begun using it as their baby blanket.

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  7. Gorgeous stuff. My eldest son still has tiny squares of muslin/terry towling, the remants of his 'rag.' He's now 17.

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  8. Awww gorgeous post. My little brother had a soft white folded cot sheet that he called his 'cluddly'. He had it on his pillow every night until he was about 8 or 10. My two each have a special soft toy that they use in that way. Miss E's went to her first school holiday this year and I know she wasn't the only one. Those special drawers are lovely aren't they? Messy but lovely.

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  9. Lovely blog. My son has Doggy, my daugter Sheepy. Inventive names you will no doubt agree. I've returned to the blogging forum once again - used to be Dulwich Dad, now Tunbridge Wells Dad (we moved) - please pop over to my blog when you have a minute.

    Warm regards
    Tunbridge Wells Dad

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