My Security Blanket

My DD may have her lovey blanket (commonly referred to as "my loby"), but I have my own security blanket-a stroller.

I have been seeing some mommy discussion boards about when is a kid too big for a stroller and under what circumstances should a kid still be in a stroller. I had a friend send me a link to a blog that is all about seeing kids that were too big for strollers, but were still in strollers.

I think that the choice of when a child is too big for a stroller is a personal decision, however, sometimes I can be just as judgmental as everyone else when I see a kid that appears "too big" for a stroller in public. Even though I don't know the circumstances, like, if the kid has a developmental or physical delay, is the child large for his age, etc.

The reason I started to think about my stroller as my security blanket is that I don't want to give it up. We have one in each vehicle "just in case". I use it at times when I am afraid my DD won't be able to walk that far and I'm afraid I'll have to carry her or heaven forbid--stop and take a break with her. I sometimes want to be able to get done what I need to get done running errands without having to look at every item, tree, flower, etc. Or it's cold out and then I can put a blanket over her (she's 2 1/2 and has snow pants, etc, that I can bring with and put on her). I also like the security of knowing exactly where she is and that she is not in harm's way.

The funny thing is, most of the time, we bring it "just in case" and end up walking the stroller with our DD either walking next to it or helping to push it. We mainly use it outside, so there is so much to look at there is no way she's staying in it.

I know that it is getting to the point that I need to pack this item up. It needs to go in the closet with the bassinet, high chair, carrier car seat, the swing, my Moby, and the list goes on and on. Maybe that's the hardest thing of all, it's the last mark of babyhood. My DD does not NEED the stroller and in some ways it feels like she doesn't need me. She can walk all by herself and can be more independent.

We all want our children to become independent. I don't want to push an older child in a stroller. We are encouraging her to potty train and are excited about every step she makes in her journey to no longer need us and become a confident adult. It does not make it any easier when the big and little steps of the journey make us want to take a time out and slow things down...just a little bit.