Confession....we just read Mo Willems Knuffle Bunny for the first time last week. I know... We have quite a large collection of vintage books and I seem to forget that there are a ton of wonderful new books waiting for our discovery.
My son is absolutely crazy for this book. He has asked for it to be read to him about a dozen times now. In case you haven't read it yet, it is about a little girl named Trixie who runs an errand with her father. During that errand something tragic happens to Trixie, she loses her Knuffle Bunny. Poor Trixie, she tries very hard to convey to her father that she has lost her Knuffle Bunny. In a way that only babies know how, but to her dismay, her father doesn't understand her. Fortunately upon reaching home, Mom notices that Knuffle Bunny is missing, so ensues a mad rush to go and find her. It is a wonderful story, and I love that real pictures are used for a backdrop against the characters. I can't believe that it has taken us so long to read it.
When I was a little girl I had a pink and white crocheted cat named Boo Boo Kitty. I got her in my Easter basket when I was about six. Her and I were inseparable for years. I still have her.
My son is not attached to any particular stuffed animal or blanket. I constantly carried him in my Moby Wrap when he was a baby and he mostly sleeps with us, so I think this is the reason why he has not formed any of those kind of attachments. He has been very attached to me, though as time goes by, he is showing more and more independence.
My sister and mother both warned me about carrying him all the time, but for us anyway, I think giving him the love and attention he needed as a baby has helped him to become the independent three year old he is today. He still loves to snuggle and cuddle, but now it seems that it is I who needs the cuddling, not him.
We love Knuffle Bunny! And the sequels, although the third one is a little too Toy Story 3 for me. ("Look! Mommy's crying again." Giggles.)
ReplyDeleteMy oldest was a sling baby! (Her sister hated it. Go figure.) She's a confident, independent 7-year-old now. :o)
We haven't gotten to the sequels yet, but I will be sure to check them out next time we go to the library :)
ReplyDeleteI am so glad I "wore" my son, It was a wonderful experience for both of us. I used to work with a man from Ghana, Africa. He said his mom used to carry him all the time, even when she was cooking or working on their farm. When he told me about it, I knew I wanted to have the same experience.
Isn't it funny how they do or don't find attachments to loveys? My daughter was fixated on a Fisher Price brown plastic horse for a while, then lost interest in it and went lovey-less for about a year, and then bonded again on a mangy stuffed blue cat from an antique store, an old Dakin stuffed turtle from my childhood and two triceratops plastic critters. They all sleep with her now and are part of a elaborate make believe world. We attachment parent too (although no baby wearing, she has loathed being wrapped up in any way from day one) so not sure why the intense need for loveys, although I did notice that they regained importance to her the age of 4 when she had more abilities and thus more independence, and that brown horse was a big deal around age 2 when we weaned. Maybe they provide comfort as she tries new things? Handy that they also enjoy attending her daily tea parties and pretend weddings too:)
ReplyDeleteI know, so far he has had no attachments, but then, that may change. Though, now that I think about it, his sippy cup may be the big thing that he is attached to. During the next three day weekend, I am going to wean him from it. It is going to be rough I know, because he "needs" it at night, even though he mostly sleeps with us. Taking his cup away, may bring the need for an attachment, we shall see. If it does, I have no problem with it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts... Have a wonderful day!
DeleteKnuffle Bunny!!! (I have so much love for Mo everything) when I was little I had a special blanket... and my oldest does too (but don't tell him I told you, he still wants to sleep with it every night... but he doesn't want ANYONE to know) neither of my other kids are attached to particular items. Who knows why? it's all beyond me!
ReplyDeleteAlso try the Pigeon series by Mo Willems. So fun to read and funny too!
ReplyDelete