For the love of lovies

Buzz Baby is a column about life with little ones. Writer Annie McQueen is a mother of four children under the age of 9.

Babies and toddlers adore their security blankets – sometimes called lovies or stuffies. There is something special about the way their favorite lovey blanket smells, feels, and even the way it looks. 

This month, we share the story of one lovey that went missing, Ellie the Ballerina Elephant. Ellie went missing in Bunker Hill, where neighbors helped mend one child's broken heart. 

It all started on a busy weekend full of fall sports. Buzz mom Rachel Dickerson found herself at a loss when Ellie suddenly vanished. Three-year-old Eloise was inconsolable. Rachel started retracing their steps for the day. They had been to a lot of places, so the chances of finding her felt very slim. 

Ellie the Elephant, a soft, cuddly elephant, had been a gift from Eloise's grandmother on her first birthday, and from that moment on, the two were inseparable. 

Ellie was not just a toy; she was a confidante, a companion, and a source of comfort for Eloise. Ellie the Elephant accompanied Eloise on every journey, from bedtime to school, from playgrounds to sporting events. She was a constant presence in Eloise's life. She would join Eloise for tea parties, play the role of Eloise's “daughter” during family playtime, join the Dickerson family at dinnertime, and even attend every one of Eloise’s big brothers’ games, always ready to cheer on her favorite team. Like so many stuffies for young children, Ellie had become a beloved member of the family. 

Rachel tried substituting Ellie with other baby dolls, soft stuffed animals, and cozy blankets, but nothing could fill the void left by Eloise’s beloved Ellie. Soon, hours turned into days, with no sign of Ellie.

Rachel turned to social media in a last-ditch effort to reunite Eloise with her cherished friend. She made an Instagram post that resembled a missing pet poster. It read: “Help! Ellie the elephant is missing! If you've seen her anywhere in the last 48 hours, please let me know!” Within two hours, something happened that felt like a miracle. 

Rachel’s friend Jessica Stargel responded, saying she had seen Ellie in the parking lot by Bunker Hill Elementary School’s track, where the boys practiced football. She had placed Ellie on the sidewalk, hoping that whoever it belonged to would return for it. But that was Friday, and now it was Sunday morning. Another message came from a neighbor, Linda Wolf, confirming Jessica’s sighting. Linda commented, “I saw Ellie, and she was on the sidewalk by the track at BHE near the football practice area this morning.” 

Without hesitation, Rachel raced over to the school. Her heart raced with anticipation as she arrived, and there, on the sidewalk, lay Ellie the Elephant, exactly where Jessica had left her for her owner to find. When Rachel brought Ellie home, Eloise came running out to the car, jumping with excitement. The reunion between a little girl and her elephant was a moment of pure happiness. 

“It was the best feeling in the world to see the pure joy in her eyes that little stuffed ballerina elephant brings,” said Rachel. “I have never been more grateful to live in such a beautiful community with neighbors and friends who truly all come together as a village to love our children, support each other, and lend help whenever needed. They say it takes a village, and it absolutely does.” The Dickerson family now makes sure to keep an extra eye on Ellie whenever they bring her out and about, just to be safe. 

LOVING Charlotte Matkins, 5, rarely leaves home without her beloved lovey. Here, she is pictured with her mom, Holly, and her cherished lovey. Charlotte has always loved the brand of lovies Angel Dear. 

Another child, Charlotte Matkins, 5, rarely leaves home without her beloved lovey. “She prefers the Angel Dear brand,” said her mom, Holly. “She has had blue lovey, brown lovey, and pink lovey.” Charlotte does not have one particular lovey, just a brand of preference, so her mom stocked up on different colors. Her favorite for a while was the brown one, but she left it behind on a playground. She left the blue one at Target one day, both never to be found. “Charlotte cried for hours when blue lovey was lost,” said Holly. Charlotte said to her mom, “It was my job to keep him safe and now he is in the lost and found.” Charlotte’s current favorite is the pink lovey. She buckles her into the car seat, and takes her everywhere she goes. 

Lovies, stuffies, security blankets – whatever you like to call them – find a special place in the heart of a child. They are their comfort and their friend. Just like with Eloise’s Ellie the Elephant and Charlotte’s pink lovey, they are irreplaceable in the heart of a child.