A while back, I wrote about my daughter's connection to her stuffed animals, as it applies to gender. I still get corrected if I call Goldie the Octopus, or Blue Bunny "he" - they are girl stuffed animals (duh). One thing that's never been on the table is a deep emotional connection to any of her stuffies. From the time she could form sentences, anytime I tried to personify one of her fluffy buddies, she would look up at me and say, "It's not real Dad." I, of course, know that (we've yet to consult the stuffed animals themselves on the feel about it).
She tends to through phases where she's really into her dolls, and will want to bring one or more along when we are going out. The answer is usually, "No," especially if we are doing a lot of walking, because five minutes after being out my wife or I are pressed into carriage of the doll. But if we're getting the car, "Okay, sure- but it stays in the car when we get to Target (or wherever)."
So the other day, we three (K, the doll, and I) got in the car. I buckled K in and got up in my seat and realized she was fumbling in the back with the middle seat belt, and when I looked back K was buckling her doll in as well. Hm, I thought. Giving into the mystery, taking care of of her doll as is she were real. I didn't voice this, just a "We all set back there?" And we were off.
When got back in the car, I got K situated and realized the doll was just kind of lying on the passenger seat (she had been unbuckled when we were getting out of the car). So before getting in up front, I made may around the car to help get her belted in as well.
"What are you doing?" asked K.
"I'm just getting her all buckled in."
"Why?"
"I don't know I just thought maybe you wanted her to be." Then I added, "To keep her safe."
K never looked up from the piece of paper she was looking at, and offered, "SHE'S NOT HUMAN, DAD."
Point taken.
I still belted the doll in. Safety first.
Safety first.