Bye-bye Blanket

It always amazes me how some things that you brace yourself for expecting difficulties can go so smooth and easy, while other things that should be simple can become very complicated. The past few weeks Ashley has had to make some adjustments that we thought would be difficult. She is having to give up carrying her pillow and blanket. Her blanket is identical to the one we got for her as a baby. It has been replaced many times over the years. Actually we have 2 pillows and 2 blankets, so she never has to go without it. We started out as good parents who required her to leave the blanket at home, but some how through the years it started going to the car and every public place imaginable, and then she added the pillow. We joked that she just was so tired from not sleeping- ever- that she had to always be prepared in case she did decide to sleep. Unfortunately it is not really appropriate for an almost eleven year old to carry a pillow and blanket, so we are taking care of this problem. The best way to break a bad habit, is to replace it with something appropriate. We are trying to replace the pillow and blanket with a silk scarf. It is still soft and can be comforting, but also appropriate for an adult to have. It also can easily fit into a purse or pocket. We braced ourselves for the worst the first time she had to leave it at home and she handled it beautifully. The teachers at school really helped her ease into the transition, by letting her have it less and less at school Her teacher even rode the bus with her the first week without it in case she had a meltdown, but she never even cried. She did try to sneak it out the door a couple times, but that's just Ashley. This weekend she went out of town to a wrestling tournament all day without it. And she did great, she did try to steal a friend's pillow and blanket, but no major upset. At lunch she started asking for it, but didn't get upset. When we got home she was holding both blankets by the time I walked in the door. If I'd known it would be this easy, we would have done this a long time ago.