From "textarea" instead of "input"

[CodeMonkeyMC]

I would like to use a "textarea" field to show the selected dates instead of an input type="text". This does not appear to work. I have included the code I am using below. This works if I use a with the class, but not with the textarea.

<script> $(document).ready(function(){ $('.multi_date_input').multiDatesPicker(); }); </script>

<textarea name="publicationDates" class="multi_date_input" style="height:70px;width:250px;"></textarea>

Any suggestions?