My most memorable day at a fairground
was almost certainly the worst day in the totality of my six years I'd spent on this Earth. It has also served as the most convincing argument for my own young sons.

I'm not convinced they'd invented wavy lines back then, so make do with the horizontal tracking button.

Hampton Court fair it was, funny how you remember these things, and the whole family was there. I had to take my cuddly toy everywhere back then, a little spittle ridden toy puppy. My dad and I went on the bumper cars and I put my toy down in the footwell. Of course, with the excitement I forgot it was there until we were half way back to the car when I began screaming. Kindly, dad took me back to the ride, and we searched, but no doubt some kid had found a bonus gift and the toy was never to be seen again.

It was only a stupid cuddly toy, but it was my world back then, and I learnt the toughest lesson I'd ever had, with many years to pass before it was surpassed.

My own children both have their own favourite toys, without which they won't sleep, eat, or even breathe without tears. So I've even gone to the ends of the internet to ensure I have a spare should the same trauma ever sully their little lives. Whatever happens, I always make sure they are either permanently attached to the child or left at home to guard the house! When I told my first born this story, in order to leave his teddy at home, he cried and offered me his own (second favourite) toy! But he learnt from my lesson, which is perhaps the wisest thing he could have done. Happily leaving his teddy to 'guard' the house whenever we go somewhere he might leave it.

Lesson; Like gambling, don't take anything you're not prepared to lose with you.

If apologies are deemed necessary for such a sickly story, tough. I lost my toy and I mourned his loss for months and years afterwards.
( Blind Meach Cautiously optimistic, Sat 11 Jun 2011, 17:31, 4 replies)

My girlfriend's niece has a bear like that. When we looked after her for a day in London, we were far more concerned about losing the teddy than losing her. I'm going to give my children only clone armies of toys so that any losses can immediately be replaced.
(johnson, Sun 12 Jun 2011, 12:21, closed)

Oh yes, I can identify with this
My 8-year-old is just starting to be less obsessed with her favourite cuddletoy. When we first realised how important it was to her, we also attempted to find some spares. It was an obscure promotional gift from a nappy company, and took some tracking down, but eventually we found some. At one time had five of the little buggers; I think we're down to three now.

I am really, really looking forward to the day when she's old enough to be inducted into the full cynicism adult world, and I can finally tell her that we had more than one...
(moon monkey is busy making memories worth repressing, Mon 13 Jun 2011, 14:07, closed)

Oh, and by the way
There's a "Toys Reunited" website, for just this situation.

No, really, there is.
(moon monkey is busy making memories worth repressing, Mon 13 Jun 2011, 14:08, closed)

Haha!
It's a sad day when I find myself dirtying toy number two just to be able to kid him it's the same one!
( Blind Meach Cautiously optimistic, Mon 13 Jun 2011, 18:30, closed)