What is it about childhood things that take us back to the warm and fuzzies?
My niece has her green bunny. I gave this to her a couple of years ago and she won't go to sleep without it. She was devastated when a child pulled it's ears off and thrilled when I was able to sew them back on. So the other night, as we were saying our prayers and cuddling with green bunny, she asked me if I had a cuddly from when I was a child. I did. I still do. Mine was an old-fashioned stuffed monkey that my parents bought for me on my first birthday.
I've held onto this monkey for almost 40 years now, and he isn't going anywhere. To be honest, I don't really have any memories of him until I started getting older, but I know that he's always been there with me. He's tattered and worn, and not played with anymore, but he represents a time of warm fuzzies. Much like the green bunny for my niece.
And Simba the Lion for my oldest daughter. I remember walking through the store with her on her first birthday, and she saw him; and she fell in love and 14 years later, she still has her Simba.
For my oldest son, it was a stuffed Mickey.
For my middle son, it was a blankie…so tattered and worn it fell apart. The other day, I found the pillow that went with it and showed it to him. He smiled; you could tell it brought warm and fuzzies, and so he asked me to keep it for him. I have.
For the youngest son, it's a blankie…and a blue teddy.
And for my youngestdaughter, it's a Boo doll.
There are certain things in life that we never get rid of. We never forget. They represent a time that was special for us. A memory that we hold on to. A feeling that we can never let go.
May we all remember a warm and fuzzy today!
Awww. I had a monkey just like that! My clearest memory of it was when I accidentally put my arm through the glass in the front storm door of our house. The doctor wouldn’t let me hang on to the monkey while they removed the shards and stitched me up. 🙁
I don’t have mine, anymore, though. Good for you for hanging onto yours! (And good for me for getting to see the photo!)
I have this same monkey. I received it for Christmas when I was 6 years old. It has always been my most favorite toy. I dressed it in baby clothes and took it EVERYWHERE. When I was 8 I said I wanted to be buried with it. I still have it…wrapped in pretty fabric in a box…I need to get it out and see if it is still together.