Everyone in their lifetime has had some article that they've clung to for support when they're scared, lonely, hungry, or sad. Some have had blankets, others had pieces of clothes, still others had small statues of religious icons. I grew up with a doll I got as a 3-year old named Joey. I never went anywhere without him as a young boy, taking him with me on camping trips, weekend excursions to the country, and back and forth to school. I cut his hair thinking it would grow back, I washed him after he became sodden with mud from a romp in a giant puddle, and I thought he might look better in cleaner clothes. Of course, all this did was make him look more weathered and antique, but he was still "Joey" to me, clean as the day I got him. Now, I still have him, but my articles of comfort and joy are geared more toward humanistic things. Seeing my daughter light up when she gets a surprise in her lunch or hearing the happiness in my wife's voice when a moment at work goes her way.
My daughter's comforting toy is her stuffed rabbit that she got when she was about the age I got my Joey. It goes everywhere with her, sleeps with her, and has taken numerous trips through the washing machine. We have taken it across the country on our different moves and it has always had a seat right next to her in the car. It has a place of prominence in her hierarchy of stuffed toys and may never leave her side. As she gets older, I am sure her rabbit may one day become part of the items slated to be stored forever in her tupperware totes, but as of right now, it gives me comfort to watch her enjoy the friendship she has with it.
No comments:
Post a Comment