Big Stinky Fish

I feel I have neglected to paint the true picture of the Mud Puddle because I have not talked yet about one of his most defining features: Nemo.

The Mud Puddle is the proud owner of a 2 foot long stuffed Nemo fish. He was the given the fish as a present (there will be retribution some day) for his second birthday. Since that time (approximately 1 year, three months and 7 days) the fish has gone with him EVERYWHERE.

Now, I am all for having the one ‘thing’ that is your prized possession, your chosen love. I had a pillow I carried with me everywhere (still use it as a matter of fact), my brother (the Nemo giver) had a ‘blankie’ and a stuffed sock monkey named Joshua (no, that is not a coincidence; the Mud Puddle was named after a sock monkey).

My problem with his ‘thing’ is that it is two feet long, is matty and dirty and 90% of the time I wind up carrying it. Like I don’t have enough to manage without being the personal Sherpa to a stuffed fish. And people KNOW you by that fish, it is hard to miss and other parents say “Oh, look at that Nemo” in a tone that says “Please let it never come to my house.”

I tried when the Mud Puddle was an infant to steer him toward a ‘thing’. Something that was small, and easily replaceable. HA! I thought I had the system beat. He did carry my chosen thing around for the first two years (Ellie, an elephant head on a blanket with his name on it). We had two, they rotated through the wash, and everyone was happy.
But once Nemo arrived, Ellie was regulated to an occasional trip out of the house and as a backup at bedtime.

Again, I am confronted with the sad truth that no matter how much you try and control the chaos of parenting the more it backfires in your face. I am reminded of this every time I have the orange fish under my arm.

I refuse to give up just yet though. “Santa” has purchased a one foot long Nemo, all soft and new and he will be waiting under the tree for the Mud Puddle this weekend. I can almost handle carrying around half the fish and none of the stink of the current Nemo.
That would be a great Christmas present to me!