In the footsteps of Linus van Pelt

At some point in your life - it probably was a while ago - you came to the realization that you and the significant people in your life, such as your mother, are separate entities. What is a boy to do when you have the painful realization that sometimes mom is actually doing something other than catering to your every need?

Enter what your psychoanalyst would call the Transitional Object!

The rest of us would call it the Security Blanket. It may be an imperfect substitute but it will do in a pinch. For the last few days, after a few weeks of being a bit of a mama's-boy, we have noticed M spending a lot more time carrying his favorite blanket around.

A Transitional Object can also be something like a teddy bear. We have also observed that after we put him to bed at night he (depending on how tired he is) will spend a certain amount of time talking. We believe he is talking to the stuffed animals in his bed. Ericka is convinced he is telling them about his day. But with few discernible words it is difficult to tell. It does, however, sound quite heartwarming.