This week, our 3-year-old, Stinkpot, who we adopted through foster care, accidentally smashed his finger in a door. The poor boy was screaming in pain as I ran to him. He was screaming, “Blankie! Blankie!”
As I scooped him in my arms, he continued screaming, “Blankie! Blankie!” As his mother, I wasn’t able to comfort him. I asked him, “Do you want Mommy to hold you or do you want Blankie?”
“I waaaaaannnnnttt Blankie!”
Stinkpot at 10 months old with Blankie
Stinkpot’s attachment to Blankie has been one of the strongest forms of attachment of any child.
- Blankie is the baby blanket given to his by the hospital of his birth.
- Blankie was the only thing that he had when he was removed from his birth family at 8 months old.
- Blankie with all its cigarette burn holes was probably his only consistent form of security during those 8 months of neglect.
As Stinkpot’s mother, on many occasions, I have felt that he is more attached to Blankie than me. And is some ways that could be true.
Because of Stinkpot’s behavior issues, I chose for the year 2011 to be a focus of transformation for Stinkpot and our family.
The first and foremost was TIME! I took leave from work to spend more time with Stinkpot, less time at work or on the computer, and more time focused on him! This has helped in that he now has a desire to be with me more.
Second, I participated in The Rockin’ Mama Challenge hosted by Lisa of A Bushel and a Peck. The challenge was to rock our wounded little ones for 15 minutes EVERY day. The first few days were tough for our hyperactive 3-year-old; however, now he asks to be rocked almost every day.
He is still very attached to Blankie; however, last night, he left Blankie at church and did well sleeping with Cars Blankie! One step at a time!
