The Young Shepherd

Zaya has a whole flock of sheep in his bedroom. It started out innocently enough, with a cute little stuffed lamb from K-mart. I bought her in the hopes that he would leave his little cousin's lamb, Lilly, alone if he had his own. Because they were so similar, we named her Lillian. Then, suddenly, I had a sheep boy. He loved his other stuffed sheep with a renewed fervor, and any new sheep that came into the house became his. They all sleep on his bed, and we have to keep track of where all of them are, because you never know which one he'll walk into the bedroom at 2am asking for. He holds them, strokes their faces, talks to them, and worries about keeping them safe. He even asked Aaron the other night how he would protect them. Aaron told him his huge stuffed duck (Amarillo), and little stuffed Timber wolf(Lupe), would take care of everyone through the night. I know it's totally normal for a child to became attached to one stuffed animal, or special blankie, as a comfort object. But a whole flock? I guess I've always been inclined to go overboard, why shouldn't my children?

As if that weren't enough, he also wants to sleep with his little beach ball with the globe on it. Last night as Aaron put him back into his bed for the fifth time, surrounded him with sheep and gave him the ball, Isaiah said, "Daddy, where is Antarctica?" Which he knows, actually, it's just more comforting when you're sure Daddy knows too. Luckily we're learning a few things, and Aaron didn't rise to bait. He finally went to sleep.
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