My hubby is a thief. The man is forever stealing my blankets at night! What's up with that?
When we were first married, this was never the case. As a matter of fact, he'd rarely put blankets on at night. He'd plunk down on top of them regardless of whether it was cold or not. Sometimes, in the middle of the night he might slide half-way beneath them, but rarely (if ever) did he cover up entirely.
This was fine by me, especially given the fact I was unable to fall asleep without a blanket. My blanket not only kept me warm, it also kept me safe. Due to a couple psychological issues, it was my security blanket as well!
My husband once asked me why I couldn't sleep without a blanket (or sheet) to cover up with. I told him the insecurity stemmed from an old folk tale I heard as a child. It was about a nasty, wicked witch who roamed the night looking for ingredients for her unearthly brew. Though she often snatched up bats, toads, lizards and such, the most sought-after ingredient was none other than the fingers and toes of little children!
Yes, you read that correctly-- fingers and toes of children. The story tells how the old witch would peer through bedroom windows with glowing eyes that pierced the night. Spying a child's hand or foot protruding from beneath blankets, she would quietly sneak inside and quickly slice the digits off in one clean swoop. And with a crackling cackle, she'd disappear into the darkness with her prized possessions before the child could screech out in pain.
From the day I first heard that story, never would you find me with hands or feet outside the blankets at night. That's why I needed the blanket... it was my security.
Of course this wasn't the only security issue I had. We had been married many, many years when I was forced to divulge another insecurity of mine... the safest side of the bed to sleep on. For me, the safe side was the one farthest from the bedroom door (and the closet). That way, if someone were to break in (or jump out of the closet) my husband would have to deal with it first since he would be closer to the perpetrator... Ha, ha, ha. Yeah, call it what you will... To me, that's 'self-preservation'.
Luckily I've outgrown the security blanket issue as the years have passed. I no longer care whether my hands or feet protrude from beneath the blankets. HOWEVER, I will not put up with a 'blanket thief' which is what my hubby has now become. He may start out with his share at night, but he ends up with the entire blanket by morning. It's a constant 'tug-o-war' that I seem to end up losing every single time.
I've tried everything from tightly tucking the blankets around my body while I sleep to making the bed with the majority of the covers on my side to begin with. Yet still... this man snoozes on all toasty and warm while I shiver away...on the side of the bed farthest from the bedroom door and dreaded closet.