[lookout123]

my son is now 6. he still has his "ni-nite". (he speaks perfectly well, that's just what it was called when he was one). To be more accurate he still has a handful of tattered threads that are still miraculously hanging together. They used to be a part of the most gloriously soft, large blanket with fringe on the edges. But 5 years of constant love have worn that thing into near oblivion. He doesn't really need it anymore, but it is just a part of the family. When he gets hurt or has an asthma attack, just pulling that thing off the shelf instantly fixes everything.

When he was 3 we forgot it at grandpa's house once but didn't realize it until bedtime. He didn't cry or throw a fit. He just laid there staring at the ceiling for 2 hours barely blinking before I acknowledged he wouldn't sleep without it and drove back across town to get. an hour later when i handed it to him he put it up to his nose took a great big sniff and was asleep in under 30 seconds.