Meltdown 2010

I never thought I would have a child that is so attached to one particular comfort item. I've heard stories of mothers stocking up on one blanket or stuffed animal so that there would always be a replacement should it go missing. I always felt that was a little over-the-top, and I've never really pushed anything on Jude, but it happened nonetheless. He met Striped Blanket, and fell in love. Striped Blanket had two brothers Polkadot Blanket, who I'm sorry to say went missing sometime last year, and Circle Blanket. Neither of those really made an impression, but Striped Blanket - oh man.
When my darling son gets ahold of his Striped Blanket, he cannot help but thread it through his fingers and begin sucking his tongue. It is a reflex, really, once his fingers meet the blanket. I've always thought it was so cute how he immediately hunkers down with Striped Blanket, and becomes quiet, relaxed, thoughtful even.
Usually Striped Blanket stays in his room, reserved for nap and bed time, but occasionally it ventures out into the living room. Until recently, when he began bringing it into the car on the days when he felt he needed it. Well, he's had a cold, so Striped Blanket has been a more constant companion. The other day, he brought him in the car, and when we got to Mimi's house, he brought it inside. We even talked about not wanting to leave it at Mimi's house, and he said, "Then I would say, go back and get it please..."
Well, you can imagine what happened. It was actually my birthday celebration, and there was a flurry of activity as were leaving. Jude was under the weather, and additionally, had skipped his nap that day, so he was already soo tired. I'm talking, like, drunk acting. His eyes were half-mast and he was slurring his words. When we finally got home and all ready for bed, the Striped Blanket search began. When we realized it wasn't in the car, the sinking realization set in. I informed him that we left it at Mimi's. He informed me, through weeping and crying, that this would be a problem. We tried to rationalize, to inform him we could get it back tomorrow, to offer Circle Blanket instead. He wouldn't even touch it; Circle Blanket was an insult, a cheap imposter. He begged us to go back and get it, but we said we weren't going to go back. Because he was so overtired, he didn't get over it as quickly as he normally would. He was heart-broken.
After we left the room, he continued wailing. Ben went back in to comfort him and I made a call to my mom's house to see if anyone over there loved Jude enough to meet Ben halfway with Striped Blanket. My sister did. When Ben came out of Jude's room he said Jude felt better because Jude had informed him that Doke and Pike, Jude's imaginary friends, were going go get his blanket and bring it to him. Ben seemed to think he would just drift off to sleep, waiting patiently; I wasn't so sure. I told him about my sister meeting him halfway so he hopped in the car. I went in to inform Jude that Daddy was going to get his blanket, and he was sitting up in bed, staring at the door. It seemed that he really believed that his imaginary friends were going to come through for him. I told him to lie down, that Daddy was going to get Striped Blanket and would bring it in when he got home. He was soon asleep, but awoke in the morning to his good friend Striped Blanket.
Needless to say, we leave Striped Blanket safely at home when we leave... and I must say that whole stocking-up thing is making a lot more sense to me now...