Favourite Childhood Toy: Rabbit

Say hello to Rabbit who is in fact older than me. He was a present from my Uncle when my Mother announced she was pregnant with me so in essence was my first toy.

Over the years people have often asked what his name is and when a toddler I would answer in my clipped tones “Rabbit! His name is Rabbit!” You could see people puzzled by his name expecting instead a fluffy name or even Bunny but the truth is I was a rather precise child, so it seemed natural to me to call him what he was.

However he was no ordinary Rabbit. In my younger years he was often referred to as my husband, brother, son and friend. I would take him with me wherever I went, telling whichever adult I was with what Rabbit was feeling: “Rabbit would really like an ice cream, and I think he deserves one seeing as he’s been good all day”. Yet I balanced it by being angry at Rabbit if he had done something not so positive “Oh dear, naughty Rabbit has spilt his drink on the table…Again!”

Along with my thumb-sucking, Rabbit is and I’m ashamed to say still is a comfort for me. So ok it’s been a good few months since I snuck my thumb in for a cheeky two minutes while playing with Rabbit’s ears!

As I got older he became old and bald so Mummy said it was best if he stayed in my bed during the day to rest so he was ready for lots of hugs at bedtime. Even as I got older it wasn’t until I was a teenager that I wouldn’t wake up if I couldn’t find Rabbit in my bed while I slept.

He’s been everywhere including New York, university, heartache and even 3 am feeds with Boo.

He now lays his head on my bedside table and the best thing is that I was really nervous to allow Boo near him incase she hurt him but in fact when occasionally he does join us for Mummy bed snuggles Boo studies him with fascination and kisses him.

So perhaps I’m cheating by including Rabbit on the favourite childhood toy meme hosted by A Mummy Too. He’s not a toy, he is Rabbit and more importantly he is my Rabbit and I love him.