An objet d'amour is a transitional love object. It is the one thing that you grew up with, forever attached to, and that thing that is representative of the happiest of memories. Mine is a teddy bear and a blankie. There is a video tucked away in my parents' house of me singing, at age four, to my teddy bear (his name was Vanilla), along with a Barney video. And he still sits in my bedroom, at age 22, a comforting support on the darkest of nights.
Calling it an objet d'amour only makes it seem more mature, more appropriate for today's times. (French is more mature, right?) Now we use other, perhaps more intangible objects to represent happy times. A photograph collection displayed in a digital frame. A novel worn with page corners turned down and grass stains along the back cover. A favorite coffee flavor that reminds us of the first time we were old enough to imbibe such a grown-up beverage.
I am reading a book called Here If You Need Me by Kate Braestrup and she got me thinking about objet d'amours, and how sometimes, we allow people to become our transitional love objects. Lord knows I've been guilty of doing so. Although guilty may not be the right word... I've relied on someone to help me through the dark and allow me to lean on them, cry on their shoulder, and love them unconditionally.
I think parents must find themselves making their children objet d'amours. A little person that is so receptive of any love you are willing to give, and through their innocence helping you transition through life. I'm certainly not ready for that yet, but one day I hope I am blessed with a little bundle that can be that for me. What is your objet d'amour?
Calling it an objet d'amour only makes it seem more mature, more appropriate for today's times. (French is more mature, right?) Now we use other, perhaps more intangible objects to represent happy times. A photograph collection displayed in a digital frame. A novel worn with page corners turned down and grass stains along the back cover. A favorite coffee flavor that reminds us of the first time we were old enough to imbibe such a grown-up beverage.
I am reading a book called Here If You Need Me by Kate Braestrup and she got me thinking about objet d'amours, and how sometimes, we allow people to become our transitional love objects. Lord knows I've been guilty of doing so. Although guilty may not be the right word... I've relied on someone to help me through the dark and allow me to lean on them, cry on their shoulder, and love them unconditionally.
I think parents must find themselves making their children objet d'amours. A little person that is so receptive of any love you are willing to give, and through their innocence helping you transition through life. I'm certainly not ready for that yet, but one day I hope I am blessed with a little bundle that can be that for me. What is your objet d'amour?
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