I was wondering how many of you have plush dolls or stuffed animals as adults. I keep one, but have had a multitude of them, in secret of course. I was always embarrassed of this and thought I was the only one. There's a part of me that still likes cute and cuddly plush toys. I just hope I'm not the only one.
Just a few. One of the lucky benefits of having a large living space. ;D
Dear Danielle,
You are the only one. I would personally never dream of such a thing! ( Except my secret ones.)
Kirsten.[emoji6]
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Quote from: Kirsteneklund7 on July 21, 2018, 07:24:54 AM
Dear Danielle,
You are the only one. I would personally never dream of such a thing! ( Except my secret ones.)
Kirsten.[emoji6]
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Umm... Kirsten... Secret ones???
Danielle, you are not the only one.
Raggedy Ann came into my home in 1985. Not only was I not publicly out as Trans, I wasn't even out to myself -- and not even out to myself for YEARS after that. I still can't really say what it was deep inside me that wanted her. All that and when I saw her I shelled out $40 to get her (rather a LOT in 1985). The lady selling her thought I was buying Ragged Ann for a very special little girl. Well as time comes to its fullness I now understand that indeed I was buying Raggedy Ann for a very special little girl...
Erin
I have loved teddy bears since I was little. I got a lot of teddy bears as gifts over the years because everyone knew I would like them. I have almost 200 of them now. Where does someone keep 200 teddy bears you ask. My dad put floor to ceiling shelves on 2 walls in my room and I keep most of them on those plus a few on my bed, dresser, etc. When Tristan moved in with me he said he was really glad I didn't collect dolls because a room full of dolls would creep him out. Lol
Quote from: Julia1996 on July 21, 2018, 10:31:31 AM
I have loved teddy bears since I was little. I got a lot of teddy bears as gifts over the years because everyone knew I would like them. I have almost 200 of them now. Where does someone keep 200 teddy bears you ask. My dad put floor to ceiling shelves on 2 walls in my room and I keep most of them on those plus a few on my bed, dresser, etc. When Tristan moved in with me he said he was really glad I didn't collect dolls because a room full of dolls would creep him out. Lol
Not only do I have plushies, but I also have a few Asian Ball-Joined Dolls (BJDs). ^-^ Most of my collection is in the basement, since we live in a small home, but I DO have two that sleep with us on the bed every night. One I hug so that my (wide) shoulders don't hurt as much when I wake up. He was given to me by my SO.
The other I've had in one form or another since I was a baby. His second incarnation has become so worn over the decades that he sleeps over my head. He's also one of the three house guardian spirits (other than the cats).
My SO has at least four that I know of. ;) And he's older than I am. (I'm 56).
So no, you're never too old for plushies!
Ryuichi
There is absolutely NOTHING to be embarassed about. "Comfort Objects" are common sights in nursing homes, hospitals and mental wards. As a survivor of childhood sexual and psychological abuse I have slept with a pillow over my head my entire life. As a young body I slept with a stuffed animal and started sleeping with one again while my wife was out of town when I was in trauma recovery. Read more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comfort_object
We have a member who routinely passes around a back back full of plush animals for comfort and caresses during our gender support meetings. Soft, fun and evocative it seems
Guilty as charged... ;D
I always thought it was some strange quirk I had. I even purged my plush dolls, with the exception of the one I sleep with, so if people come in my house they don't see my collection. I wish I hadn't though. I miss them. A lot!!!
I think it's silly for people to be embarrassed about having stuffed animals. My brother has a stuffed monkey that he's had since he was like 3. He still sleeps with it but as soon as he gets up he puts his little monkey in a dresser drawer. He has never left it out in plain site. I think it's hilarious that he is embarrassed about sleeping with it. Those of you who know me are probably thinking I tease him about it. But no I never tease him about it. He is my older brother and I totally love teasing him and messing with him and telling him blonde jokes but I don't ever tease him about anything I think he might be truly sensitive about or that would actually hurt his feelings.
Quote from: Julia1996 on July 21, 2018, 10:31:31 AM
I have loved teddy bears since I was little. I got a lot of teddy bears as gifts over the years because everyone knew I would like them. I have almost 200 of them now. Where does someone keep 200 teddy bears you ask. My dad put floor to ceiling shelves on 2 walls in my room and I keep most of them on those plus a few on my bed, dresser, etc. When Tristan moved in with me he said he was really glad I didn't collect dolls because a room full of dolls would creep him out. Lol
200! Bless! No wonder you are concerned about your father's book collection. They take up space that your teddy bears might need.
Soft toys from my late mother are a dog, a Bob the Builder doll, a swagman, a koala that plays Waltzing Matilda, a rock hyrax and a Herero woman doll. Also a cabbage patch doll and a Chinese girl doll but they probably don't count although they are partly soft. I have no other soft toys. Well, technically, I also have a couple of small teddy bears, a tiger and a mouse but they belong to the ghost of my mother's Yorkshire terrier. (How creeped out would Tristan be by that?)
I have a few porcelain dolls that I bought but I've never bought soft toys. I still wish that my grandmother hadn't thrown away my teddy bear and bunny, though.
Quote from: Julia1996 on July 21, 2018, 01:02:29 PM
I think it's silly for people to be embarrassed about having stuffed animals. My brother has a stuffed monkey that he's had since he was like 3. He still sleeps with it but as soon as he gets up he puts his little monkey in a dresser drawer. He has never left it out in plain site. I think it's hilarious that he is embarrassed about sleeping with it. Those of you who know me are probably thinking I tease him about it. But no I never tease him about it. He is my older brother and I totally love teasing him and messing with him and telling him blonde jokes but I don't ever tease him about anything I think he might be truly sensitive about or that would actually hurt his feelings.
It is sweet of you not to tease him. If you did, he might throw it away and later regret it. If he ever thinks of throwing it away, perhaps you could get him to put it in your care until he wants it again.
Quote from: Danielle Kristina on July 21, 2018, 12:55:55 PM
I always thought it was some strange quirk I had. I even purged my plush dolls, with the exception of the one I sleep with, so if people come in my house they don't see my collection. I wish I hadn't though. I miss them. A lot!!!
It makes me sad to hear you purged most of your plush dolls. Raggedy Ann has been with me through thick and thin for 33 years and I could never think of parting with her. In fact, when I mentioned you had purged dolls, I thought I might have seen the hint of a tear in her eye...
Given the travails of life I only have one soft toy left from when I was little. That is worn and very dirty, but she still has a place.
There is nothing wrong with having a comfort object. I know, I might think different when I "grow up" but at my current age I am beginning to think that might not happen.
Enjoy you little friends.
Erin
Quote from: ErinWDK on July 22, 2018, 02:26:00 PM
It makes me sad to hear you purged most of your plush dolls. Raggedy Ann has been with me through thick and thin for 33 years and I could never think of parting with her. In fact, when I mentioned you had purged dolls, I thought I might have seen the hint of a tear in her eye...
Given the travails of life I only have one soft toy left from when I was little. That is worn and very dirty, but she still has a place.
There is nothing wrong with having a comfort object. I know, I might think different when I "grow up" but at my current age I am beginning to think that might not happen.
Enjoy you little friends.
Erin
Trust me, you never outgrow your comfort items. All it takes is one bad illness, a bad breakup or the death of someone close to you for you to need it.
Keep your comfort items everyone. They're doing what they're supposed to, comfort you when you need it.
I'm heading towards 57, and I still have my favorite plushie. (Read my previous postfor more.)
My SO and my immediate family all knows that he in particular is going with me in my coffin when my time comes. So even in death, he'll still be giving me comfort. :)
Ryuichi
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Apart from the soft toys I mentioned above, I forgot that my mother knitted them. I still have quite a lot but I keep them in a suitcase as there is no room for them. There used to be a lot more but my mother gave many away and, after she died, my brother took a lot because his girlfriend sells stuff on eBay and car boot sales.
Quote from: ErinWDK on July 22, 2018, 02:26:00 PM
It makes me sad to hear you purged most of your plush dolls. Raggedy Ann has been with me through thick and thin for 33 years and I could never think of parting with her. In fact, when I mentioned you had purged dolls, I thought I might have seen the hint of a tear in her eye...
Given the travails of life I only have one soft toy left from when I was little. That is worn and very dirty, but she still has a place.
There is nothing wrong with having a comfort object. I know, I might think different when I "grow up" but at my current age I am beginning to think that might not happen.
Enjoy you little friends.
Erin
Hi Erin,
It makes me sad to think of purging them too. Fortunately, many of them are at my mom's house and I can take them back whenever I want. Unfortunately, two of my absolute favorites were thrown away. I thought about replacing the two that were thrown away, but I feel such a connection with the original two that replacing them with two more of the exact same dolls wouldn't be the same. It's funny, but when I purged I felt good about myself, but looking back now all I want to do is cry when I think about the ones I lost forever, so much I try not to even think about them.
Danielle
My mom sold all my stuffed animals at a yard sale when I was 5 because she thought I had allergies :( so I plan on extending my collection as an adult. Out of what I have now, my teddy Steve is the biggest and cuddliest, then there's Mr. Gosh, Bondage Bunny, and a cute little panda I haven't named. Steve moves around a lot (because he's cuddly) and the others are all prominently displayed in my living room.
Don't worry about that! I'm 15 and still sleep with a teddy bear I got when I was 3! I also have two other stuffed animals that I sleep with. I have way more stuffed animals, so many that I can't even count them!!! (Trust me, I stopped counting at 30...)
Regardless of gender and sexuality, you can snuggle with whatever plushie you want!😊
The plushie I sleep with is Helga Pataki from the Nickelodeon cartoon Hey Arnold!. I was a 90's kid and Hey Arnold! was one of my most favorite shows, with Helga as my favorite character. It doesn't matter if I'm at home or if I go out of town Helga goes with me.
I have a stuffed bear named Fluff and a stuffed leopard named Friend that I sleep with. They even go on road trip with us. Taking my two along with my partners teddy bear and penguin into hotels usually raises an eye brow or two as we roll the luggage cart past the front desk...and no, they don't break the no pets policy as they are therapy animals.
Tia Anne
Two teddy bears, an older rather well hugged and (now) floppy one and a much firmer plushie share my bed with me and, like Anne, both have traveled with me for years as well. They bring great delight to my 3-year-old granddaughter who can't really believe MeeMaw sleeps with them.
I also share the bed with two small dogs and a cat who are usually generous enough to leave me a sliver of mattress :o.
Susan
I'm so glad I'm not the only one! For years and years I really thought I was. I've always had a love for stuffed animals and plushie dolls. Of course, here on the thread is the first time I ever admitted it to anyone.
I have a small collection of unicorns at my parents' house, but none with me at my apartment. I gotta change that.
A long term member here once noted she was "reclaiming her lost girlhood" as she was/is a real fan of a particular critter. That really struck me. We do have the ability to redefine our lives and if that includes cute plushy dolls or animals then why should gender or age be any issue at all? As we assert our truths and breath free of repressive constraints a cuddly critter can be just what we want.
Amen Tessa!
Here's a little update: my plushie little friends that I've kept an my mom's house are coming home! But alas, two of my little friends are gone for good. I could buy two new ones, but that would be like cheating on my originals. I'm the one who purged my dolls in the first place, but how I would give anything to get them all back!!!
Good to hear they are coming home!
I have a lot of stuffed animals that I've kept. Most are still at my parents' house, but some moved out with me. Only one got destroyed by their dog, because they decided that they could give it to the dog without asking me first.
Apart from my younger brother, my soft toys were my best friends when I was growing up. Even though I don't use them any more (except for one that stays on/beside the bed), it hurts to think of giving them away or throwing them out (or letting them get chewed apart). So instead I just have to deal with the bi-annual "when are you throwing out your toys?" or "we're going to throw out your toys" discussion.
Quote from: charizard on July 31, 2018, 02:51:07 AM
I have a lot of stuffed animals that I've kept. Most are still at my parents' house, but some moved out with me. Only one got destroyed by their dog, because they decided that they could give it to the dog without asking me first.
Apart from my younger brother, my soft toys were my best friends when I was growing up. Even though I don't use them any more (except for one that stays on/beside the bed), it hurts to think of giving them away or throwing them out (or letting them get chewed apart). So instead I just have to deal with the bi-annual "when are you throwing out your toys?" or "we're going to throw out your toys" discussion.
I purged my collection by bringing them to my parents' house. I kept them in a closet upstairs in a bedroom decorated for children. I thought my dolls would blend in and no one but me would know where they came from. Anyway, three of them (originally I said two, but after I my remaining dolls I realized I lost three) were kept in a plastic trash bag and somehow wound up in the garage downstairs with the rest of the garbage. I had every intention of rescuing them, but I didn't act fast enough and now they are gone forever. I'd give anything to get them back. Of my dolls they were my favorite. One of them especially!!!
Quote from: Danielle Kristina on July 30, 2018, 10:56:01 PM
Here's a little update: my plushie little friends that I've kept an my mom's house are coming home! But alas, two of my little friends are gone for good. I could buy two new ones, but that would be like cheating on my originals. I'm the one who purged my dolls in the first place, but how I would give anything to get them all back!!!
It wouldn't be cheating on them to get new ones. It would be reincarnation.
Quote from: Danielle Kristina on July 31, 2018, 02:57:25 AM
I purged my collection by bringing them to my parents' house. I kept them in a closet upstairs in a bedroom decorated for children. I thought my dolls would blend in and no one but me would know where they came from. Anyway, three of them (originally I said two, but after I my remaining dolls I realized I lost three) were kept in a plastic trash bag and somehow wound up in the garage downstairs with the rest of the garbage. I had every intention of rescuing them, but I didn't act fast enough and now they are gone forever. I'd give anything to get them back. Of my dolls they were my favorite. One of them especially!!!
That is sad. If you can actually get identical new ones it might help a little. I know it is not the same thing, but think of it as reclaiming part of you. One of my favorite plushies -- that traveled everywhere with me -- was lost about ten years ago. I can't get another exactly like him, and I have looked. I have found a few similar and have hoarded them. That actually did help a little. You need to do what works for you.
Erin
Quote from: MaryT on July 31, 2018, 05:54:36 AM
It wouldn't be cheating on them to get new ones. It would be reincarnation.
I later thought about it that way too. I think I am going to get new ones exactly like my old ones.
Quote from: ErinWDK on July 31, 2018, 09:02:23 AM
That is sad. If you can actually get identical new ones it might help a little. I know it is not the same thing, but think of it as reclaiming part of you. One of my favorite plushies -- that traveled everywhere with me -- was lost about ten years ago. I can't get another exactly like him, and I have looked. I have found a few similar and have hoarded them. That actually did help a little. You need to do what works for you.
Erin
I'm going to get identical new ones. Originally, I wasn't going to, but as my heart hurts over losing my plushies I want to reclaim them in some way. I guess that I can look at it this way: as I transition myself from the old to the new me, so do my long lost plushies.
Quote from: MaryT on July 31, 2018, 05:54:36 AM
It wouldn't be cheating on them to get new ones. It would be reincarnation.
I did just that when, the bunny I had since my very first Easter (he was given to me by one of my grandmothers), was thrown away by my kid's heartless ex. He knew how much my bunny meant to me, yet he was thrown away out of pure maliciousness.
Later on, I found a bunny from my then-favorite anime that had the same emotional "feel" as my original bunny. So, my old bunny was reincarnated into the new bunny. I've had my bunny's reincarnated body since 2005, and he sleeps over my head every night, since he too is now so worn that he's pretty threadbare .
Like I said in a previous post in this thread, my entire family knows that he goes in the coffin with me, to be cremated and his ashes mixed with mine so that we'll never be apart. <3
Ryuichi