Her First Doll

@simone10 (54189)
Louisville, Kentucky
October 9, 2015 5:48am CST
When my first granddaughter was just a year old, I bought her a doll for her first Christmas. It wasn't anything fancy. It was a cloth doll because she was so young and I didn't want any pieces to come off in her mouth. The doll was just about the right size for a baby to hold and snuggle with. As the years went by, that doll became more and more special to her. She couldn't sleep without her. There were many a night when my son and daughter-in-law had to tear the whole house apart trying to find the misplaced doll so that my granddaughter would go to sleep. Fast forward to today. My granddaughter is 15 years old and still has this little cloth doll. It looks pretty pitiful by now. She still sleeps with her but more out of sentiment now than the security of when she was a baby. I'm really surprised the doll has lasted this long. Did you, your kids or your grandkids have a special toy or blanket? One that they couldn't do without or sleep without?
21 people like this
23 responses
• United States
9 Oct 15
We mostly had hand me around stuff. I know I had a few special dolls that were bought just for me though. I used to have a clown doll that a nurse gave me when I was in the hospital for meningitis. I'm more surprised I Was able to spell that correctly first try than anything.
6 people like this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
10 Oct 15
Aren't you proud of yourself spelling that I probably would have had to look up the spelling before writing this.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
17 Oct 15
I know a lot of children like clowns and clown dolls but they always creeped me out just a little.
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
9 Oct 15
My son had a stuffed lion that he slept with every night until he became suspicious of its intentions and threw it in the trash bin.
4 people like this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
10 Oct 15
Did he think it was going to harm him?
3 people like this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
10 Oct 15
@ChesneyM My children are just as strange as I am, but in unique ways.
2 people like this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
10 Oct 15
@Marcyaz Well, it WAS a lion, after all.
2 people like this
@marlina (154166)
• Canada
9 Oct 15
My son had a receiving blanket that he slept with. Eventually, it looked like a rag but he kept it forever.
4 people like this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
17 Oct 15
That is so sweet. You said he still has it?
@LadyDuck (458006)
• Switzerland
9 Oct 15
As you know, I had no children, so no grandkids too. I remember that I had a doll that I loved, even if I have never slept with a toy or a special blanket. I still have that old doll.
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (458006)
• Switzerland
17 Oct 15
@simone10 I have asked my Mom and she confirmed she has my doll. I will try to take a picture the next time I go to visit.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
22 Oct 15
@LadyDuck That is great! I would love to see a picture of it.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
17 Oct 15
You still have the doll now? I bet she really brings back old memories.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
9 Oct 15
My daughter had a sort of bear thing she called two-face - it had a face on both sides. She loved that for years, but I can't remember what became of it.
3 people like this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
10 Oct 15
Oh and I bet that was a strange looking bear with a face on each side.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
17 Oct 15
@simone10 Yes, it had the same expression both sides.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
17 Oct 15
Did the bear have the same face on both sides or was it a different expression?
1 person likes this
• United States
10 Oct 15
yes ma'am, all the young'uns went through that 'stage' 'n the eldest grands'f done the same. that reminds me...i wonder if'n my daughter still knows where her first baby is?? through'n ugly divorce 'n many moves, i doubt it
3 people like this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
17 Oct 15
You never know, she just might still have it packed away somewhere.
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
23 Oct 15
@crazyhorseladycx I had my first Barbie in the 50's. She didn't move like they do now. I wish I had saved her as she would be worth some money now.
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Oct 15
@simone10 i imagine her ex did 'way with it, hon. thankfully she did get those ol' barbie dolls though.
1 person likes this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
10 Oct 15
My one son had a blanket that he took everywhere with it and the only time I could wash it was when he was sleeping but I had to have it dried and back with him by the time he woke up. He had it for many years.
1 person likes this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
17 Oct 15
@simone10 It is their security blanket for some reason I guess it makes them feel safe.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
17 Oct 15
That is so sweet. I wonder what it is about dolls and blankets that make feel secure.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
23 Oct 15
@Marcyaz Yes, it does make them feel safe and secure.
@Blondie2222 (28611)
• United States
10 Oct 15
Wow that is amazing that it's lasted that long. It's something she can have memory on and hopefully it will last for when she has kids also but it may not. I never had anything that I was attached too when I was little.
2 people like this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
17 Oct 15
I never did either, at least nothing that I remember. Yes, I think it's amazing that she still has the doll even though it looks pretty pitiful now.
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
10 Oct 15
My 2nd Son had to have one of my blouses poor babe was so attached to me, it had to be the one i had just worn too so i hardly ever had a chance to wash my blouses he would grab it..hahah..he is 36 now and has 3 Babes of his own now..
2 people like this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
17 Oct 15
Now that is so very sweet. It had your smell on the blouse and he loved having it close to him.
1 person likes this
@Shellyann36 (11385)
• United States
10 Oct 15
Wonderful story. My mama made me a rag doll when I was young. It is still at her house. I loved that doll. I am letting my nieces play with it now. My kids have lots of stuffed animals and sometimes they sleep with them and sometimes they don't.
1 person likes this
@Shellyann36 (11385)
• United States
21 Oct 15
@simone10 Oh yes it was very special. She did such a good job on it and she made me two or three outfits to go with the doll and even shoes. I kept it for years on my bed when I lived with my parents. The next time I go to see them I think I will bring it home.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
17 Oct 15
I bet that doll was special since it was made by your mother.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
25 Oct 15
@Shellyann36 Oh, I would bring her home. It will bring back so many memories for you.
1 person likes this
@rosekiss (30380)
• Eugene, Oregon
12 Oct 15
When my now 16 year old grandson was very small, he had a special stuffed animal that he slept with and carried around everywhere. He really wore it out, and it lost a leg but he still liked it anyway. I am not really sure at what age he didn't have it anymore, but he sure did use it for a very long time.
1 person likes this
@rosekiss (30380)
• Eugene, Oregon
18 Oct 15
@simone10 Yep, it sure is. I can't remember my kids ever getting attached to anyting like that. Every child is different though, and now that my grandson is 16, he has way outgrown all that, and probably got rid of his stuffed toy a long time ago.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
23 Oct 15
@rosekiss My kids weren't attached to any kind of toy or stuffed animal either. Now my son did suck his thumb up until he was 5 years old.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
17 Oct 15
Isn't it funny how a child can become so attached to a stuffed toy?
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130066)
• India
10 Oct 15
One of our dogs did that. He insisted that he had his old torn mat with him whenever he went to sleep.
2 people like this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
10 Oct 15
Oh how cute that would be.
2 people like this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
17 Oct 15
I've never heard of a dog doing that. I bet that was cute.
1 person likes this
@GreatMartin (23677)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
10 Oct 15
I still have the thumb--mine--that I sucked as a baby! Does that count?
3 people like this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
10 Oct 15
Of course it counts it was your security blanket...
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
17 Oct 15
My son sucked his thumb up until he was about 5 or 6 years old.
@ria1606roy (2797)
• Kolkata, India
10 Oct 15
It is very heartening that your grand daughter has kept that doll for all these years. It truly represents your love. Wish I had one now!
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
22 Oct 15
@ria1606roy My granddaughter certainly feels that way.
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
17 Oct 15
Yes, it did represent my love for her. I just never imagined that she would become so attached to it.
1 person likes this
• Kolkata, India
17 Oct 15
@simone10 that's the beauty of love, some things are its representatives and it is hard to give them up even with age.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (158958)
• Boise, Idaho
11 Oct 15
My granddaughter had a little niteglo doll like object that I got her for Christmas I believe. She had it for many years. She is going to be having her second child and doesn't have it anymore. It was cute and lit up.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
17 Oct 15
I bet the way it lit up is what made her feel safe and secure in bed at night.
@lady1993 (27225)
• Philippines
22 Oct 15
oooh, that is so sweet it would be awesome if she kept it until she had a daughter herself
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
27 Oct 15
I don't know if it would last quite that long as it's pretty tattered now.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (134422)
• Roseburg, Oregon
11 Oct 15
She really loved that doll all of these years. She is not about to part with it.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
17 Oct 15
No, my granddaughter won't part with it. At least not anytime soon.
@tessastv (273)
• Inverness, Scotland
12 Oct 15
That's so sweet she still has the cloth doll. I used to have (and still have in it somewhere hidden) a small panda bear to which I was attached badly. I couldn't go to sleep if I wouldn't have it right by my side. I remember my parents going crazy whenever I forgot the bear home, because I use to be so sad if I didn't have it with me everywhere. Such great memories..
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
17 Oct 15
Awww, that is so sweet. And I think it's great that you still have the panda bear.
• Las Vegas, Nevada
10 Oct 15
I do have a valuable doll that we have it for almost 50 years or more. In fact I had some one from a TV radio talk show looked at that and he said that possibly is worth few thousand Dollars. We will keep for now.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
17 Oct 15
I don't blame you, I would keep the doll also. 50 years is a long time to have a doll.
• Islamabad, Pakistan
23 Oct 15
Elder have very impotance in our life
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
29 Oct 15
Yes, our elders are very important to us.