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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask for help in saving Blankie's life?

113 replies

ItNeedsCleansingByFire · 19/09/2024 15:02

My 23yr old DD has a childhood blanket she still sleeps with and snuggles.

Its name is Blankie (well of course it is Smile). It was originally a white flat cot size classic cellular blanket with a satin ribbon trim. Twenty three years later it is a grey ratty bundle/knot approximately the size of a hand, with a couple of strips dangling off. Like tentacles. (See attached photos for similar type "blankies" as DD's is too embarrassing outing to put a real photo up).

It is shrinking every year and she is worried what will happen when it is too small to snuggle. I have offered to sew it into a pillow/cushion type thing (after donning a full hazmat suit) but as it's a knot rather than flat fabric, it wouldn't really work. We have considered sewing it into the tummy of a toy like a teddy but apparently the blankie needs to be "touchable". So the grey ratty Blankie knot needs to be kept touchable whilst stopping the shrinkage.

We are at a loss. I don't really have any other ideas - well I do, but they involve a flame thrower and DD is resistant to this, but I know MNers will have genius suggestions...

(I would also like to make a Gordion Knot joke at this point but sadly I'm not intelligent enough. So any suggestions on this would also be welcomed Wink)

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mumda · 24/09/2024 15:55

Buy her a new one, kill the old one and tell her it re-grew. :)

SeptimusSheep · 24/09/2024 15:25

OMG.

I just browsed the prices on the Leith Toy Repair site, thinking that restoring DS's ratty old bear might be a nice gesture. £435-575! I think Ted is going to stay bedraggled for several more decades.

InMySpareTime · 24/09/2024 15:23

Keep an eye out for any more blankies on the market, to get ahead of the issue and allow for regular washing to stop New Blankie ending up knotted like Old Blankie.
DD had 5 monkeys but only thought she had 1. I swapped and washed them regularly.

shellyleppard · 24/09/2024 15:10

@ItNeedsCleansingByFire that's fantastic news, so so pleased you got a replacement ❤️

Original poster
ItNeedsCleansingByFire · 24/09/2024 14:31

PPS I can no longer see LTB without automatically thinking it means Leave The Blankie now BlushGrin

OP posts:
Original poster
ItNeedsCleansingByFire · 24/09/2024 14:30

PS I imagine her boyfriend would also like to thank you, he happily tolerated OG Blankie (so he must love DD quite a lot!) but is relieved it has been retired with full honours Smile

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Original poster
ItNeedsCleansingByFire · 24/09/2024 14:27

Apologies for delay in coming back to the thread. The new blanket so kindly found by @Mmr224 has actually been bought and is perfect.

OG Blankie has been ceremoniously and carefully placed in a special drawer and new blanket is on DD's bed (where her fingers go straight to rubbing the satin strip!)

It's exactly the same blanket I bought DD when she was born all those months years ago which gives me a comforting feeling too, especially as our current circumstances are difficult. It has a sort of symmetry to it Smile

Thank you all for taking the time to reply. Even the mardy arses haven't annoyed me as I actually feel a bit sorry for them. I don't mind being judged, god knows I've been a MNer long enough Wink but being the kind of person posting just to sneer at a young adult with a harmless habit seems quite sad. (I'd rather see a blankie in her hand than a vape!)

Anyway I know that DD is safe with a blankie to see her through the next 282 months at least, thanks to MN. Ironically DDs often use MN for FWR and cats and know there are a number of strong women here giving good advice on relationships etc, but now they also know there is literally no problem too small for MN to solve Smile

So thanks to all.

OP posts:
MoreOfADogPerson · 20/09/2024 10:22

RedToothBrush · 19/09/2024 23:51

https://news.sky.com/story/the-repair-shop-presenter-jay-blades-charged-with-controlling-and-coercive-behaviour-against-estranged-wife-13213783

Sorry.

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Thanks - how depressing...

saltinesandcoffeecups · 20/09/2024 00:37

So the answer from a (to far into a G&T to do math to figure out months) older than 24 yo woman. The answer is to get a replacement that ticks most of the boxes, retire blankie to a special place and go from there.

Why yes I do have Blankie in an envelope in a closet with a different one in the bed that I do legitimately use to roll under my neck at the suggestion of my physical therapist. We won’t discuss Beary that lives in the closet in retirement.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 19/09/2024 23:56

I am 51 and sleep every night with James the dog who my dad won at Blackpool Pleasure Beach when I was about 8. At one point he caught fire from the bedside lamp (!) and had to have major surgery. Health and safety was clearly not a thing then. I also sleep with my DP, have a proper job etc, I just like my doggy.

MonsteraMama · 19/09/2024 23:53

My granny was 101 (sorry, 1212 months) when she died and was buried at her request with the tatty remains of her childhood bear. So eff off joy sponges, keeping stuff from your childhood is lovely 🙃

Could it be unpicked or unravelled and whatever is salvaged be worked into a new blanket?

MoreOfADogPerson · 19/09/2024 23:48

ThePoshUns · 19/09/2024 19:40

Maybe ask Jay Blades if he can help. I hear he has a bit of time on his hands at the moment.

OMG, please tell me Jay Blades isn't a wrong un!

imnotwhoyouthinkiam · 19/09/2024 23:48

I'm 480 months old, as is Teddles. I like to be able to feel him as I fall asleep.
Although if he was actually falling apart I would find something else rather than risk his actual life!

ThirstyThursday · 19/09/2024 23:45

Glimber · 19/09/2024 16:27

Oh I'm sorry, I didn't mean to come over as unkind.

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@Glimber I didn't think you did!

Mikunia · 19/09/2024 23:42

So I'm assuming that the edges are knitted and need stabilising as they are unraveling, in which case get someone to sew around the edges to secure all the stitches and it will stop falling apart but remain as it is. I think it would be fairly easy.

ThirstyThursday · 19/09/2024 23:41

usernother · 19/09/2024 16:23

I have a teddy that was bought for me on the day I was born and is older than 60. But it's kept as an heirloom, not an emotional crutch.

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@usernother

poor teddy

astounding how people need to feel superior & what they think makes them so superior, when it just makes them look lacking.

ThirstyThursday · 19/09/2024 23:35

usernother · 19/09/2024 16:02

Really? I don't know any adults with that level of attachment to childhood things. It's really odd imo.

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@usernother I don't imagine anyone that knows you would feel comfortable telling you

Balloonhearts · 19/09/2024 23:34

I still have mine at 34. He's the size of a postage stamp and lives in my jewellery box. Occasionally comes out for a smell and face stroke if my blood pressure really really needs to come down and I can't deal with anyone around me.

My advice is to her is have it only at bedtime then gradually reduce to only weekend bedtimes until she doesn't need him at all.

ThirstyThursday · 19/09/2024 23:34

RedToothBrush · 19/09/2024 17:27

Get a ceremonial boat, put blankie in, then set fire to it in a moving ceremony.

Alternatively there's the black bin for general household waste.

@RedToothBrush

Youre the gift that keeps giving 🙄🙄

ThirstyThursday · 19/09/2024 23:31

ItNeedsCleansingByFire · 19/09/2024 15:16

Fucking hell, I knew I have should have gone for Chat not AIBU - it's a good job this isn't about adult DS's blankies, imagine. Well I have a flamethrower ready if anyone would like to borrow it to use against me or DD Wink

I think it's not uncommon for adults to have attachment to childhood things like blankets/toys/bedding etc. Last time I was in hospital I didn't take my teddy as he is too old to cope with an extended stay away from home, but DH did bring him to visit me Grin and I'm late 40s!

@ItNeedsCleansingByFire

You're my kind of person ☺️

Take no notice of the mean girls

i don't think you can do much really though before it becomes Triggers Broom.

BogRollBOGOF · 19/09/2024 23:22

I like the pocket idea best.

My blankie and I are 523 months old. She still requires much sniffing and hugging. Satin rubbing had stopped many, many months ago. I found an Esty seller who made replicas of my blankie, and while she's very different in texture to the original, on feeling the ribbon, my hands went straight to threading it through my hands like I did when I was little.

For conservation reasons, hugging is a bit more sparing than it used to be and she tends to sleep next to me rather than hugging all night. I travel without her.

There's probably definitely Reasons why I still have my blankie, but it beats most other avaliable coping strategies in life like upmteen forms of addiction and causes no harm to anyone.

VestaTilley · 19/09/2024 22:41

Just coming on to say I think you sound like a very lovely DM 😭

GogAndMagog · 19/09/2024 22:34

Attach it to a new blankie as the 'head' then add eyes and ears and your daughter has a new friend.

Still touchable.

Like this story. 🥰

ThePoshUns · 19/09/2024 19:40

Maybe ask Jay Blades if he can help. I hear he has a bit of time on his hands at the moment.