I have a confession. I’m 29 years old, and I still sleep with a teddy bear.
This is Theodora.
This is her fresh out of the wash. She’s been loved HARD.
I’ve had Theodora for close to 23 years now. I think. I can’t remember exactly when I got her. My parents went on vacation to Colorado, and they came back with a teddy bear for me. I’m not sure WHY Theodora became my favorite, but she rarely left my side when I was little.
She’s made every move with me, and I can’t fall asleep until I have her in just the right nook in my arm. When I was on home bed rest, she helped support my aching belly. I like to think that she was helping me hold up Madeline.
Theodora is the one toy I don’t let Rigby or Madeline near. So of course she is the one toy they desperately want. My theory on this is the teddy bear smells like me. I have woken up in the mornings to Rigby curled around her. Of course, I snatch Theodora back right away lest Rigby get to humping. I think I will eventually let Maddie cuddle her, if I have to go out of town or something. Maybe. I dunno. Maddie has to get that barfing thing under control first.
I used to be somewhat embarrassed that I still have a stuffed animal to cuddle with. But I’ve come to realize that my teddy bear is my link to my past. She makes me feel comfortable, like I’m still a kid without a care in the world. When I go to sleep with her tucked into my arm, I feel like everything is right in my world.
I’m lucky Mike is understanding!
Maddie has tons of wonderful stuffed animals and beautiful cuddly dolls. I wonder if any will be her security blanket. I hope someday she has something that always brings her comfort.
Mahala says:
looks around nervously Okay.. don’t tell anyone but I’m three days shy of 43 and I still have mine. runs like the wind before anyone sees her
Mahalas last blog post..CEOs, Clown Cars and Other Gadgets
maya says:
I have my preemie cabbage patch doll that I adore. I got her when I was 6. She is bald and beautiful.. oh, and naked. Its eery that she was part of the preemie collection…
mayas last blog post..On Crooners & Gymboree
cindy w says:
I still sleep with my security blanket that I’ve had since I was a week old. How it’s still in one piece, I’m not sure. And of course, Catie desperately wants it, and sorry kid, but no way, no how.
cindy ws last blog post..my love of British food
Danes says:
I still sleep with my baby blankets. What? I was supposed to stop cold turkey after 28 years? Yeah, and my kids will soooo not be touching them – they’ll probably disintegrate.
Alicia says:
I too sleep with at stuffed animal at 25 years YOUNG. It is a stuffed rabbit my boyfriend gave me like 5 and a half years ago. Before that it was a golden retriever from Eddie Bauer.
~Alicia
Lisa says:
My husband is almost 32 and still sleeps with his “doggie” pillow, which is basically a pillow with ears that his mom made for him when he was little. It has to travel with us when we are out of town cause he can’t bare to be without it!!
Lisas last blog post..Support for Pregnant Teens
Jackie says:
Lily is still a regular bed buddy for me. She doesn’t have the “I’m Brave” tshirt on anymore…obviously. But, that doesn’t stop me from snuggling with her. And, I have no excuse. She’s not even from childhood. I GOT her when I was 29…but, I don’t see her going anywhere anytime soon.
Daddy Dan says:
I don’t see any problem with Theodora, but I just hope you cover her eyes when you and Mike are getting busy! It’s not right for her to see things like that.
Frozen Star says:
I’m 22 years old, and I still have a ton of cuddly toys. I usually don’t bring them to bed with me, but when I can’t sleep, I resort to the favorite bear that my mom got for me when I was four years old. Its name is Cyprus. Can you guess which vacation this cuddly toy was purchased during?
Frozen Stars last blog post..Presents and paper and ribbons, oh my!
Lesha says:
I’m almost 32 and while I don’t have the EXACT doll, I have one of the many sock dolls that I grew up cuddling from the time I was about 3. They aren’t as durable as your bear, and they’re smaller so they’re lost easily. I’ve been through probably 15 of them over the years. I have two now and I thought I’d eventually give them to G, but I just can’t. He’ll have to find his own stuffed lovey.
ali says:
i think it’s totally adorable, though i am kind of thankful my mom “accidentally” left my blanket in a hotel room when i was a kid. i don’t know that my husband would be as understanding
alis last blog post..hair wars
preTzel says:
Heh. You’d be shocked if you saw the “stuffed” animal I sleep with. It’s a black panther, full body length, and soft as sin. I love it. I bought it at Menards for $50 and Mr. about had a fit but too bad for him. It’s my own stuffed animal combo body pillow.
preTzels last blog post..Some Bad Language And A Feel – Good Story.
AMomTwoBoys says:
Me too. His name is Fudge. I bought him with my own money at Disneyland when I was 9. He’s missing a nose and his mouth is wonky (from a dog attack) but I can’t sleep without him.
I did, however, donate him to Zach for ONE night recently when he couldn’t sleep and, in Rigby fashion, was molesting the bear. I’m not sure if it was Fudge or the Motrin I drugged him with, but he slept the rest of the night without making a peep. I’m going to give the credit to Fudge.
AMomTwoBoyss last blog post..Are Your Panties In a Bunch Yet?
AMomTwoBoys says:
And! And! Dylan’s favorite blankets, that he can’t sleep without and carries around the house with him were MINE when I was a baby. Isn’t that too sweet for words?
AMomTwoBoyss last blog post..Are Your Panties In a Bunch Yet?
MazingAmy says:
Me! Me! I’m 5 months shy of 40 and I’ve had Doggie since the day I was born. I love him, plain and simple and you can pry him out of my cold, dead hands. He has been a witness to my ENTIRE life and is my most personally valuable posession. itb. Amy
MazingAmys last blog post..if i were a carpenter and you were my lady…
MazingAmy says:
Oh and if you ever took David St. John’s Intro to Poetry Writing class at SC you might appreciate this– I wrote a whole poem about Doggie called Ode to my Childhood Friend about the day doggie died. LOL I was 4 and my dad came in to kiss my goodbye before work and as was my custom, I wound doggie’s music box. Only it broke that morning. “Doggie’s Dead, Daddy!” I cried.
35 3/4 years later, he’s still with me, albeit with a big ol’ hole in his back.
MazingAmys last blog post..if i were a carpenter and you were my lady…
Wendy says:
Me too! I’ll be 37 soon. Cuddles, the polar bear I got for Christmas in 1979 is around here somewhere and is reserved for when I REALLY need her. But I, too, need something to cuddle or I don’t sleep quite right. At the moment, it’s a BABW bunny that I built for my hubby while on our honeymoon. He built me a bear–which is too hard. The bunny is soft and cuddly and when cuddled in just the right way–the ears go to either side of my neck and cuddle me back!
Anissa@Hope4Peyton says:
My girls came home with a raggedy quilt from their grandmother’s house and Peter nearly hit the floor. “Where did you get that?” The girls tell him that Grandma gave it to them. My 36 year old husband stomped across the room, snatched it out of their hands and snapped “Well, it’s mine!”
He gave it back to them, but when one of them comes into our bed with it at night, inevitably we wake up with him curled up all snuggly-wubbly with it.
Is CUTE.
Anissa@Hope4Peytons last blog post..…only when followed by the words “How much?”
patois says:
The last thing you need is to have poor Theodora become the toy thing of that crazy dog of yours.
patoiss last blog post..The Weekly Wonderings #88
Joe says:
I can’t believe how many posts here are from people that still, as adults, have a security item. There’s nothing wrong with it, I think, but it’s still strange to me.
Myself, I don’t think I’ve EVER had anything like that. Weirdos.
Joes last blog post..Wordless Wednesday v. Florida/Alabama
Solar Dancer says:
I still have a blanket that I took with me when I left home for college. Its not quite the same things as a teddy, but I always sleep better with it. I’m glad to know that I’m not alone.
Solar Dancers last blog post..Haiku day 10
zandor says:
I still have my teddy bear. I take it with me to college and home, but when i’m home I have to be careful because we have two dogs (sometimes three when my sister brings hers to our house) and they like stuffed animals. I will probably continue to sleep with it forlikeever.
zandors last blog post..I had a dream
Tami says:
Im 47 and I have my two thumblina dolls ,along with my stuffed polar bear collection. I just heart stuffed animals.
Spring says:
I have a stuffed dog, Candy, that I got when I turned 1. 29 years later, she’s still with me. During high school if I was going to a sleep over, I’d stuff her in my pillow (something else that ALWAYS goes wtih me) and just sleep with her in there. A couple of times, I forgot her at home and would call Dad flipping out, he would go get her out of my bed and she’d sleep with him & mom for the night. And yeah, my husband understands; understands to the point that once we thought we had left her at our house when we were travelling to our parents, we were searching all over the car for her and he volunteered to turn around and go back to get her. Sad that he gives in to the crazy, I know; but I HAVE to have her. I’ve let my daughter touch her…once, maybe when she’s older she can touch her again…doubt it.
Tania says:
ummm, well I still have my “binky” and I am almost 40 (Feb), this one isn’t from my childhood although I still have a few of those left, it is the silky part of the blanket that I rub together to go to sleep, I keep part of it in my purse as it is my stress release as well…………………………my daughter loves to get her hands on it too and sometimes we have a little fight over who gets it tonight….I have been known to sneak up staris when she is sleeping and take it back…….LOL