Teddies

[beverleymot]

My sons dad thinks that 5 is too old to be having a teddy bear. My son has a teddy that he has loved his whole life and these days he only takes it to bed- and brings it down with him when he wakes up. He usually leaves it on the sofa and its forgotten about until bedtime! He went out with his Dad on Sunday and took the teddy with him and now i'm getting hassle off his dad about letting him have a teddy at 5. As i say he never takes it out with him he only ever has it at bedtime- am i right to let him do this or is he too old?

[Iolanthe]

My 15 year old grandson, now a tall chap with a deep voice, still had Teddy sitting with him until very recently, whenever he was using the computer. (Teddy, very worn and now quite limp, has been with him since birth, and I knitted him a cricket sweater and scarf last year to give him a bit of street cred.) In the past few months, Teddy stays in the bedroom now, as Chris has discovered GIRLS..... and his girlfriend is only allowed downstairs.

When we were on holiday a few years ago, in Helsinki, I was buying a small moose wearing a knitted sweater with the Finnish flag embroidered on it, to join my collection of soft toy moose and reindeer (which my husband thinks is a bit sad!), and a man, travelling with his family asked if he could take a photo of his Teddy (yes, really!!!) with my new moose.... Apparently this teddy travels all over the world with the family, and has an appropriate photo at each port of call! So, the moral is: you're never too old to have a Teddy bear. My elder daughter still has hers on her bedside table, as she has had him since birth, but my younger daughter was never particularly bothered about hers.

[tamborine]

teddies are de rigueur for graduates.....he'll never make uni without it

[Iolanthe]

PS I forgot to mention that, as a War baby, we didn't have many new things, and so, when my cousin was born in 1948, I apparently gave up my teddy to give to my new cousin, for which my mother (apparently) felt eternally guilty. When I was 38, my mother bought me a new, large and very fluffy teddy from M & S, so this was the start of my teddy rescue service (now limited to 19, as I have no more space!) and I eventually moved on to the moose and reindeer collection. May I hasten to mention that I am a retired teacher and Grandma to 7, and haven't forgotten what it was like to be a child.... I'm strict, but fair and I know that little people need lots of cuddles from Grandmas and Grandads, as well as teddies!

[tamborine]

Mr Veritas...Yeti ?

[zzxxee]

mr veritas you need to write a book about your bears adventures i would buy a copy xxxxxxxx

[yogi-bear]

Nothing wrong in a 5 year old having a teddy bear, or some cuddly toy to cuddle for bedtime.........perfectly normal, as gives them some comfort and re-assurance. Our youngest still takes a cuddly toy to bed with her.

( one day though, i'll break my habit, as i think 44 is quite old enough for me and my teddy to part ways :0( )

[36TEAK36]

Mr V, I would buy your book as well. Your answer was truly heartwarming.

Beverlymot, I agree with everyone else, you are never too old to have aTeddy. My Boys are 6 and 8, and both have Teddy Bears which they love, although the oldest won't admit to it quite as freely as the younger one.