Linus, The Woobie and You

by Anthony Romanelli

Making sure you have everything is the hardest part of packing for any trip.  If I forget "Pinky Blanket," my older daughter's security blanket, or "Woobie" as we call it, life as I know it as a Savvy Daddy would be forged into nothing more than BAD DADDY! 

While you may scoff at the importance of the security blanket, I have to believe every father understands the true, vital nature of security itself.  Think about the security of our jobs.  Our jobs give us the sense of comfort and security, and plays a role in melding us into the caring, loving fathers that we are (and are hoping to become).  Our careers help us to provide food on the table, gives us a sense of purpose as dads, and an unwritten acknowledgement that we are raising our children-no tiny feat in and of itself. 

Our security blankets also come in the form of the bond we have with our children.  We surely don't want our little ones torn, shredding on the edges, or left behind, right?  From birth we carry them around, attach them to our hips, set them down-if only for the briefest of moments-and pick them back up again.  Let's just make sure we don't throw them in the washer when they're dirty-that's what bathtubs are for. 

Finally, our security blankets come with a sense of purpose.  Not so much "why are we here," but more a "what can I do while I'm here."  I have realized that while I'm here, I want to provide the best possible life I know how for my two little girls.  That will include uncomfortable things such as talking about taboo topics, forcing our hands when it comes to dating and curfews, and even making sure we tow the line regarding seemingly insignificant room cleanings.

So, before you laugh at Linus and his blanket, understand that he was just a younger version of us-waiting in the wings, taking care of what was most important to him, just the way we do with our own children.  We hold onto our children because they mean the world to us, and we finally understand why Linus never wanted to let that blanket go.