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When Vanya turned two, her great-grandmother gave her a doll that could cry, laugh, burp, sleep and say "mama". It was love at first sight.
She immediately christened her Tulba. Up to this day, 4 years and 20 days later, I have no idea of how she came up with that name.
But she never forgot it and from that day forward the two were inseparable. She sleeps with Tulba, talks to her and even reprimands her.
When she plays on the swing or needs both hands, she hands over Tulba with these words: "Look after Tulba for me, she is your grandchild so take very good care of her" On her birthday great- grandmother Grieta still gives a set of clothes and a nappy for Tulba's birthday. She is the first toy that Vanya takes with on holiday or outings. Tulba can still cry and laugh, although her bottle went missing and she is not able to make her drinking sounds and she does not look brand-new. Yet she is still very much loved and cared for.
But I once again realised how much last night, when my six year old girl, no longer a baby, came out of her room crying, because she had just realised that she had forgotten Tulba at her grandparents house that day. No amount of explaining that grandpa will bring the doll the next evening could curb the tears and worry.
We needed to call grandpa right then and tell him Tulba is there so that he can make sure she is there and all right. My second little girl became two this year she also wanted a "Tulba" and great-grandmother, fair and loving not only complied but had planned for this. This "Tulba" however well received and kissed on her birthday, gets dragged by the feet and is forgotten in Kitra's playpen for weeks.
But one night of Vanya and Tulba being separated is like torture.
I do not know how long Tulba will still be actively played with, but I have no doubt that this is the toy that will be kept in safe keeping for Vanya's' children and will always cause that soft, fuzzy nostalgia in her when she looks at or remembers her.
Marléne
She immediately christened her Tulba. Up to this day, 4 years and 20 days later, I have no idea of how she came up with that name.
But she never forgot it and from that day forward the two were inseparable. She sleeps with Tulba, talks to her and even reprimands her.
When she plays on the swing or needs both hands, she hands over Tulba with these words: "Look after Tulba for me, she is your grandchild so take very good care of her" On her birthday great- grandmother Grieta still gives a set of clothes and a nappy for Tulba's birthday. She is the first toy that Vanya takes with on holiday or outings. Tulba can still cry and laugh, although her bottle went missing and she is not able to make her drinking sounds and she does not look brand-new. Yet she is still very much loved and cared for.
But I once again realised how much last night, when my six year old girl, no longer a baby, came out of her room crying, because she had just realised that she had forgotten Tulba at her grandparents house that day. No amount of explaining that grandpa will bring the doll the next evening could curb the tears and worry.
We needed to call grandpa right then and tell him Tulba is there so that he can make sure she is there and all right. My second little girl became two this year she also wanted a "Tulba" and great-grandmother, fair and loving not only complied but had planned for this. This "Tulba" however well received and kissed on her birthday, gets dragged by the feet and is forgotten in Kitra's playpen for weeks.
But one night of Vanya and Tulba being separated is like torture.
I do not know how long Tulba will still be actively played with, but I have no doubt that this is the toy that will be kept in safe keeping for Vanya's' children and will always cause that soft, fuzzy nostalgia in her when she looks at or remembers her.
Marléne
