I love you

I have always loved the way you make me feel, the warmth you give me when we touch, the comfort you give me when I’m cold, and your forgiving nature when I’m feeling unattractive.

I love that you enjoy smores and hot chocolates with me, that you don’t take life too seriously and that you bring out the inner child in me.

I love that we have many memories together, that you have helped me through some very long nights, and that our relationship has continued to flourish through parenthood.

I love you flannelette pjs.

Anyone else have an unwavering love for flannelettes? If you don’t you are seriously missing out. Our relationship started like any other flannelette PJ/human relationship: As a young child. Garnished with every child’s favourite cartoon, bright colours and their almost always unflattering designs, there is no denying that they were at least initially intended for the childhood age group. However, this doesn’t mean that they are not capable of appeasing an older age bracket. In fact, I have realised through my passion for all things comfortable sleepwear that many of the adult flannelette numbers also have cartoons on them or some form of cheesy joke capable of making sure that you do not set foot outside your house when wearing them. I guess that makes sense because PJ’s in public are not a good look. Perhaps the policy makers at Pack n Save should take note?

My love for this fashion forward sleepwear range carried through University and into my young professional days, the period whereby the relationship has the potential to be tested the most (make of that what you will). Unlike their one piece counterpart, the nightie, which is as equally unaesthetically appealing, made from a light/almost see-through material and has the ability of notching you up tighter and tighter into a cocoon with each and every bed roll, this two piece pearla truly has stood the test of time.

When I became pregnant, they became my night time main stay. The thing is, when it comes to flannelette, bigger is always better. By the end of my pregnancy I was sporting a size L (myself and my PJ’s) so that my precious bump was given the ability to expand in comfort and style. Unfortunately I didn’t get enough wear out of them because I was due in January when it was too hot to wear clothes at the best of times (hypothetically speaking, of course). When I did, it was something to behold. I know this because I have stored in my memory bank the many times I captured Mark’s bewildered expression when he arrived home from work to find me lying on our bed, on my side, with my flanelettes covering all but my cankles which were raised on a tower of pillows. I do not have a photo of me in this state and never will. Sorry, but not sorry.

With their buttons down the front, soft material capable of both soaking up leaks (#breastfeedinggodsend) and drying them out naturally, as well as soothing any baby to sleep with skin to flannel contact, they well and truly made my life easier with breastfeeding. Of course they did. They are the best item of sleepwear after all. However, they have to be any male/females (#genderequality) worst nightmare. Seeing their other half getting into bed wearing what only can be described as sleep aiders does not exactly send a message that you’re “down” if you get my drift. You see, with flanelettes what you see is what you get. Unlike the nightie, they are not trying to be someone else. They are not meant to be silky and sexy, just comfortable. They are not meant to be easy on the eye, just practical.

Not surprisingly, there are so many other “knock offs” of this comfy classic. I get that they make hot work in summer and you need to swap them in for some tshirt/short combos, however, do yourself a favour and never wear silk boxer shorts. While they may feature similar figures to that printed on the flannelette, they have one significant difference: No male or female over the age of 12 can get away with wearing them without looking like a creep or weirdo (take your pick), male or female. Also, speaking from my childhood experience (of course) they have the ability in hot conditions to retain sweat and stick to all surface areas which isn’t appropriate for a child, let alone a grown adult. The same can be said for the silk nightie, but perhaps that was what the designer intended when considering the practical problem that comes from the entire silk piece making its way to above your (.)(.) during the first hour of setting to sleep (and not from doing you know what)? They probably don’t deserve that much credit.

Clearly I’m a flannelette fan from way back. I am now imparting my passion for all things flannelette to my daughter, although I suspect she didn’t need convincing as she has experienced them from the womb to the bedroom. Now that Lottie is weaned, I don’t have an excuse to wear them myself, which is what Mark is starting to get excited about. Perhaps I’ll just need to get pregnant again.