My name is Madeline and I'm a Band-Aid-aholic

By Kristin

The other night after I put my 4-year-old daughter to bed, I heard screams that made me wonder whether there actually were monsters in her room. I sprinted out of the kitchen thinking about what could have possibly happened to cause such an awful response (I imagine she's sick and throwing up; she's had a terrible dream; she jumped one too many times on the bed and fell and hit her head -- I am so telling her I told you so).

As I rounded the stairs, my husband looked in amazement at how fast my pregnancy-tired body was moving. When I threw open her door to assess the probability of each potential cause I'd imagined, none seemed possible.  She was clutching her foot. 

Her foot? What the heck could have happened to her foot? 

I immediately asked her what was wrong and if she was OK. Through extensive sobs that made her sound like someone who had just dumped her guts to Oprah, she explained "I I I loooost myyyy Baaaand-Aiiiiid" -- the Band-Aid that was placed on her foot at least four times that day to heal a phantom wound. I knew she still had it on when I put her in bed because we had to re-secure it several times during the story telling and straight-jacketing. (That's a joke.  We never read stories.) 

But I do think there is something about the composition of toddler/preschooler skin that somehow repels the adhesive on a Band-Aid. They just don't stay on. Or more likely the fact that they don't stay attached is a marketing ploy so you have to buy yet another box of Barbie Band-Aids after your box of 20 is used up in one day. But I digress.

I peeled back her sheets and there it was. Her beautiful little hollow cylinder of Band-Aid love. She was instantly calmed when we discovered it. We slid it right back on and she was at peace and ready for bed. 

I really wish there were something my adult mind would allow me to find so powerfully healing and calming as a Band-Aid. But given the price of that 20 pack, we might have to start emptying her piggy bank to fund this addiction. Now that I think about it, fifteen cents a hit is pretty reasonable.   

Kristin is married to her high school sweetheart and the mother of one daughter, Madeline.

Comments

[Sister to a Barney-aholic]

If anyone still has these magical Seaseme Street Bandaids, or Barney for that matter, would you please contact me? Sadly, Target changes their varieties while my brother's preferences remain the same. Thank you!

[Susan]

I have also discovered the magical healing powers of bandaids. However, ours must be Sesame Street bandaids. No others will do. And ours only stay on for a matter of minutes before they are stuck to the wall, the floor, a toy, etc. Its quite funny that so many toddlers go through this odd fascination with bandaids.

[Robin P]

Did you ever see the movie,LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS when Seymour has to prick his fingers every day to feed his plant blood? He had band aids on every finger. Well,that's Lillianna.

I think she thinks band aids are a kind of jewelry! "The Shrek band aid goes great with these jeans!"

She can't think straight if the box is empty. I just bought another box yesterday of FAIRLY ODD PARENTS band aids. I like to enjoy them too.

[Kimberly]

Regan has also embraced the magical healing powers of the bandaid, or, in her words, "boo boo stick."