Nanny

Brooke:

"Where's Nanny?"

"Watch Nanny crawl down the stairs with me!"

"Nanny can't come to the table because I could spill on her."

"Can Nanny come in the store?"

"Please put the window up! Nanny doesn't like to be cold."

"Nanny isn't allowed in the bathroom."

"NANNNY, Na-Na, NAAAAANNNY!"

"Nanny doesn't like to get wet."

"Can I bring Nanny?"

"Mom, watch! Nanny is hiding under the blanket!"

"I want Nanny!"

"Can I turn on the light, I can't feel Nanny!"

"Nanny can stay in my bin at school in case I need her."

"Smell Nanny, she's stinky."

"Don't wash Nanny, I like her the way she smells stinky!"

"I can't find Nanny!"

"Wait! I need to get Nanny."

"Nanny can't play outside, she could get lost."

"Remember when we lost Nanny and I had to use "Other" Nanny?"

"This is Nanny's face. That is how she can see the TV."

At this point, I assume you realize Nanny isn't actually a "person." Though one might think that Nanny is like a 5th child. We worry about misplacing Nanny almost as much we do the kids. If Nanny gets lost, it may very well be the END OF THE WORLD. It's not uncommon for one of us (the other kids included) to ask nervously, "Have you seen Nanny?"

Nanny is a blue, ratty, tattered, stringy remnant of a blankie -- and could possibly be the center of Brooke's universe. I guess Nanny is a girl because we all call her a "her." Nanny accompanies us pretty much everywhere - to the store, on vacation, to the doctor's, to school... and Brooke loves her. Nanny has rules -- she isn't allowed to go into the bathroom, or eat with us at the dinner table. She can't play outside because she could get lost. She has to go in the wash when she gets stinky, and she has to stay in Brooke's cubby or bookbag at school.

It bothers me when well-meaning people try to tell us that we should get rid of Nanny.

Why would you throw away something that comforts your child and makes her feel good and whole and safe? When Brooke gets tired or cranky or sad, she takes a "Nanny Break," and sits quietly snuggling and calming herself down. Brooke likes her stringy and ratty, and likes to feel the strings between her fingers. When Brooke's sleeping, Nanny is always tucked safely in her bed with her, helping her make it through the night in her own bed.

I know there will come a day when Brooke no longer needs Nanny. I have to say, when that day comes, I think I'm really going to miss her...