Each of my kids has a favorite blanket they use for playing Superman, for making forts with the sofa cushions, or for keeping warm on Saturday mornings watching cartoons while Andrew and I sleep in.David's blanket, which I made while I was pregnant with him eight years ago, has seen especially rigorous use. I've patched and mended that thing until there's not much more to do but to put it down for good. You know--"send it to live on a farm somewhere where it can be happy and have lots of room to run around"?
When I suggested during a recent reconstructive surgical procedure that perhaps it was time to get rid of the blanket David paled slightly and snatched his treasure from my insensitive claws.
"No!" was all I could get from him. So I let the subject set for a while.
But the next time I was called upon for an emergency patch job I was smarter. "Hmmmmm . . . what are these things on here anyway?" I fake-squinted at the bare flannel that was so faded the little sheep and teddy bears were like little albinos in a snow storm.
David squirmed uncomfortably.
"Yup . . . yup, they're definitely teddy bears. With bows."
"I can't see any bows."
"Right here. And here." I paused for effect. "You know I saw some fabric at the store the other day with footballs on it."
"Footballs?"
"You know, David, if you wanted. I could make you another blanket. One that was warm and you could come with me to pick out the fabric. What do you say?"
He thought about it for a minute and then smiled. "Cool!"
I knew then I'd won.
So Spencer, who also needed a new blanket, picked out a manly flannel with snowboarders doing half-pipes and David chose a nice baseball motif. Christmas Day--which was a rather lazy day--I tied them and bound the edges and presented the boys with two thoroughly warm, fluffy, masculine blankets suitable for bullfighter capes or covering tiger traps in the family room. All's well that ends well.
David was so happy he hasn't even asked what happened to his old blanket.
It's on a farm in the Valley.
Technorati tags: Alaska, motherhood, blankets, sewing
18 comments:
You are so good! Now we need some quickie instructions for making these awesome blankets. :)
When my children outgrow their favorite things, I put them in a box for safekeeping. That way they can take them out long after I'm gone and remember. Just a few things are in that box, just the things that they loved dearly.
It is amazing how attached we all get to the special items. Becs has a Pooh bear in great need of a nose job that will be kicking around forever it seems.
The blankets sound lovely!
Hehe...my son is 22, but his "bank-bank" is tucked away on the top shelf of his closet still.
Now THAT's using your head. Great job Mom. I will file that in the back on my mind when SF's burpies are falling apart...since I can't seem to find new ones to her liking.
I'm impressed. I am always the one that is wanting my kids to hold on to their favorite baby toys. I hope you kept it. He will love looking back on that little thing he loved on for 8 years! Am I too sentimental?? Hmmmm...
If you're looking for a good chuckle on the subject, read Kevin Henkes' book Owen about a boy and his blanket. I think I'd mentioned his other book Chrysanthemum earlier this week in the post about names, coincidentally. They're both really funny.
Awww...did you save them?
Signed,
Sentimental Fool :)
PS: I still have my fave "baby blanket" but it needs a little reconstructive surgery, as well.
Very smart mama are you!
Glad you are done with the patching for a while now. The blankets sound comfy. Do you make them in adult sizes????
very clever, mama. well done!
i tried to be clever. i had my mom remake my girl's blankey, just in case we lost one, she threw up on it, etc.
now she has two blankeys. oh well.
My youngest 2 children have favorite "ki-ki's" I haven't had to do any repair work yet but I'm glad to learn from others experiences!
I hope you kept those other blankets in a chest somewhere. It would be so great to show them their "teddy" blankets when they've grown up.
How sweet! I've got a crochet blanket I'm making for my son (who will be one next month!) and I'm afraid that he'll be too big for the pretty pastels too soon. So, where are the instructions for your groovy blanket?
And my baby blanket is up in my closet
My son has a blanket with stars. Maybe someday I can convince him that they are too girly :) Great job!
I loved this post, but I probably would've been too sentimental to totally toss the old blanket, too. Much better than my best friend's mom, who tossed her beloved ratty blanket out into the river as they drove over it on a bridge, while her evil older brother cheered. Talk about scarred for life!
I feel horrible about admitting this, based on the comments so far, but I did throw it away. Tosssed that ratty, smelly, shredded piece of textile in the trash. I probably should have saved it, but it was pretty nasty and had stains of a disturbing nature. Plus I'm afraid I have a habit of throwing everything that's not nailed down away if no one's touched it for a week.
Hope I've not disappointed you.
Ahhh, that's cute! Of course I think you did the right thing. I would have thrown the dirty things away too! You have the photos to look at and really, how many times do you think they would want to hold their baby blankets when they're grown? Probably never.
What a wonderful thing...to make a special blankie for each of your kids.
I also enjoyed the way you used reverse psychology to put those tired blankets on the farm. :)
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