My daughter, Mikenna Elizabeth, is seven years old and is never without her best friend, a teddy bear that my mother gave her for Christmas last year.  Ever since then, the two have become inseperable: child and toy.  They are the best of buddies.

Mikenna, who has cerebral palsy, cannot walk, but she can talk and does: she talks a blue streak.  LOL  I guess she figures that since she can't use her legs, she will make up for it with her voice.  LOL (Smart girl!)

Anyway, ever since Mikenna got Mr. Fuzzy-Teddy (as she aptly named her "friend"), they are always together.  When they aren't, Mikenna throws a duck fit.  She won't go to sleep (or even go to the doctor's or even to surgery) without her best buddy.  Wherever she goes, Mr. Fuzzy-Teddy has to be with her, or else Mikenna is inconsolable.

I know that it isn't healthy to have such a strong attachment to an inanimate object, but what's a mother to do?  I see my daughter crying or screaming, and her howls break my heart, so I have no choice BUT to give in and give her Mr. Fuzzy-Teddy: anything to quiet and/or calm her down.

It never fails!

Mikenna is an only child, so I guess having her buddy with her at all times kind of makes sense.  She is lonesome, so she has Mr. Fuzzy-Teddy by her at all times (or as much as possible).  She tells him her deepest, darkest secrets and she refuses to let anybody else hold him or play with him.  She is extremely possessive when it comes to her playtoys, especially her teddy bear.