Everyone Needs a Lovey

Or at least a Squishmallow

My bed is beginning to get crowded. My husband remarked recently that at the rate we’re going, he’ll be sleeping on the floor pretty soon.

For Christmas this year, a large box arrived with the season’s latest toy sensation- a Squishmallow. It is a spotted highland cow named Celestino. I assumed that this was a gift for my newest grandchild, Flora, who is almost one. But I was told that it was in fact for me. My daughter knows me well. She knows how much I love something cuddly and soft to sleep with.

When I was heading for my first brain surgery four years ago, I had two different friends send me stuffed dogs (thank you Kappy and Alice). These friends know me well too and knew that I would be comforted in the hospital and in recovery with a stuffed pup that looks like my Smooch. Both my Squishmallow and my puppy sleep with me now. Nothing is better than an afternoon nap with your loveys. Of course Smooch is welcome on the bed as well.

Both of my children had special blankets when they were babies. My grand daughter Mabel has a large menagerie of stuffed animals who sleep in a hammock above her bed. When she was a baby, she received the most thoughtful baby gift ever- a pastel knitted blanket with a small version to take with her when she travelled. How genius. You can’t always jam a full size blanket into your suitcase, but you can surely pack a miniature version of your blanket.

What is it about a lovey that is so precious to us? Does it remind us of our tender, younger selves? Does it simply offer the tactile pleasure of stroking something soft?

I wonder how many adults have a lovey of some kind. Has everyone discovered the simple joy of this nap time accessory? I suppose there are people in the world who don’t indulge in the practice of napping. When one has gone to a summer camp like mine, we learn the fine art of “rest hour”. This is the time after lunch when the camp community takes a quiet break from all of the hustle and bustle and slows down. Many counselors actually sleep. Most campers sit on their beds with a quiet activity or a book. Having a special blanket or lovey just adds to the pleasure.

Maybe this is what the world needs now. More soft and special loveys to comfort us as the world feels out of control. Maybe the makers of Squishmallows are onto something. Or if we’re lucky, our dog friends are there with a warm, comforting presence.

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