I spent today mending my children’s (and my) toys. The monkey was pooping Fiberfil. The wolf-whistling lovebug (mine) had been laundered and needed to be re-stuffed and wolf-whistling mechanism put back in place. The talking teddy bear was out of batteries, as was the Glowworm. They all needed stuffing and sewing repair in one form or another. In gauging how much Fiberfil to put back in these creatures, it got me to thinking about a person I know who had made bears for some members of my family and how she stuffed them.

I prefer my animals to be a little bit loosey goosey¹. They’re so much more cuddly, comforting, and welcoming that way. I tend to not care so much for the bears that are stuffed solid as a rock, which scream, “Lookie–no touchie!”

This person I know stuffs dolls and bears so tight and solid that there is absolutely no give; thus, they’re not for touching or playing with. They’re for decoration². And that pretty much sums up her personality: No cuddling. No comfort. No give. No warmth.

I wonder what my dolls would say about me?

¹Caveat: I don’t much care for stuffed animals at all, and have just spent the last month paring my children’s stuffed toys down to an acceptable two or three each. It’s just too much, really, and I don’t think any child should have that much.

²Yeah, I don’t like knickknacks, either, especially ones that don’t have a strong personal meaning or emotional attachment.