From dogs to monkeys, our favorite stuffed animals have provided us with comfort and love. What’s your story?
As the semester winds down and winter break approaches, I’m sure all of us can’t wait to get home and relax, snuggling with that cuddly special someone who makes us feel lovely. My special guy? His name’s Teddy, and he’s been my snuggle buddy pretty much since I was three. Teddy is probably a cliché name for a Teddy Bear, but I’ve never thought about changing it. He was my aunt’s old Teddy Bear, and somehow he became mine after leaving her house one day. My sister says I stole it from her, because my aunt had apparently given him to her, but I somehow always forget that part of the story. Teddy’s been there for me through it all; the lonely nights when a nightmare woke me up, the lightning filled evenings when the thunder scared me. Even now, he’s my go to guy when I come home for the weekend, keeping a connection between my past and present and reminding me of where I’ve been.
I asked a few people what their favorite stuffed animal memories were, and some of the responses I received were very touching.
Sophomore Ash Hutson shares, “When I first met my boyfriend, he knew that my favorite stuffed animal was a fox. He was in Connecticut for a Navy trip and came across this baby fox cub stuffed animal. The next time he was down, he gave it to me, and I was crazy excited.” She continues, “The funny thing is, though, I can only see him every few weeks or so, but we exchange custody of the little fox, Rory, and I get him when there are really long breaks apart. It helps remind us of each other, and when we sleep with it in our beds, it makes it seem as if we are sleeping with each other.” How romantic is that? It’s so sweet knowing that a Navy guy can have a cute side like that, even though, Ash says, “He obviously conceals the baby in his mess of blankets, because grown men don’t sleep with fox kittens!” We certainly wouldn’t judge him for that!
Ash with her fox
Freshman Allison Holocker’s beloved stuffed animal is certainly not the normal woodland creature, but her story is still empowering. “I’ve had four knee surgeries,” she says. “After my first surgery in sixth grade, my mom bought me this monkey who I called Boo Boo monkey since I had a ‘boo boo’ on my leg. As weird as it sounds, this monkey became my strength. I had that monkey with me through every surgery, the painful days after surgery, and every night when I thought that I couldn’t get through it. The doctors even bandaged its leg to match mine. I still have that monkey, and it reminds me of all I’ve been through and how much strength I really have within.”
Allison and her monkey
Freshman Alicen Jobes’ animal story is a little more saddening, but she shares it with a smile. “Sparky was my dog stuffed animal, life sized beagle. He was small, because beagles are small,” she laughs. “I took him absolutely everywhere. When the family trip to the beach came, it was only right that I bring Sparky to the beach. I mean, on the beach. Of course, I didn’t want him to get wet, so despite what my mom’s advice was, I took Sparky, put him in my sand pail, and got in the ocean, because Sparky went everywhere with me. Unfortunately, Sparky and the pail get ripped away from me in the waves, and I never saw him again. I made my mom walk up and down the beach with me, because I hoped he’d wash up on the beach. But, he wasn’t.” Sparky, rest in peace. Here’s hoping these two will one day be reunited again!
Whether your stuffed animal has been with your for years or has been lost for too long, I think we all can agree that there is something about those fluffy dolls that makes us feel warm and special. Thank you all for sharing your stories with us, and for those of you who also have stories, feel free to tell us all about them! As winter break comes ‘round and the stress of exams goes away, settle down for a night in and snuggle with your animal—you deserve it.
Do you have a story about your favorite stuffed animal? Tell us in the comments!