I Want my Teddies back!

My first childhood memory was an extremely happy one. Christmas day 1975 and my parents, aka ‘The Giants!’ towered above my tiny frame as I stared inquisitively at the box covered in Santa wrapping paper.

Reaching my arms to open the lid, my Dad lifted me up to peer inside. It was a fluffy animal of some kind. With big brown fluffy ears!

My Mum smiled at me then delivered it into my arms. It was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen! Two big brown eyes, a funny nose and a happy smile. It was even bigger than I was! but I wasn’t scared.

With tears of joy, I hugged him tight and knew from that moment on I had a best friend forever. I would never let him go!

Over the next few years my teddy was joined by other friends too. I had a Koala bear (for some reason I enjoyed rubbing it’s bum and it required frequent stitching!), a Loch Ness Monster, a giraffe and and even an Elephant. I’m sad to say that my memory of many others has failed me now, but I know that I loved them all.

They went everywhere with me and we enjoyed many adventures together. Teddy bears picnics in the garden were a particular favourite of mine and I can still remember laying out all the little cups and plates for them. I spoke to them as I was serving up and they talked to me too …

“Would you like some more tea and cake teddy? … Yes! … What about you Elephant? … you can drink it through your trunk can’t you! … You’re very welcome Loch Ness Monster…”

At bedtimes, I would line them up next to my pillows. Then after My mum kissed me goodnight, my bed would transform into a rocket ship. The ten second countdown would begin and we’d all go into space together and have amazing adventures among the stars.

It wasn’t just good times we spent together either. If I’d been told off for being naughty and been spanked (sadly, a ‘normal’ part of growing up in the 1970s), my teddies would comfort me and make everything ok again. They understood that smashing my parents ornament was just an accident and that material objects were not as important as love. (Just thought I’d get that one in!)

So here I am in 2025 with no teddies to comfort me anymore. I suppose it might look rather strange if I carried them around the grocery store asking their advice on which laundry powder to buy. But then again, It wouldn’t be any stranger than all the modern zombies staring at their mobile phones and talking to ChatGPT or watching Tiktok in the queue.

In fact, come to think of it, mobile phones could almost be described as electronic teddies for the modern-day adult. Only problem is they are not very cuddly and tend to be rather more interested in consumerism and pornography rather than love. I suppose you could get a teddy bear cover, but I’ve already looked and they are all made of toxic plastic!

Sadly, it seems traditional teddies are no longer an important part of our culture. While my own children do have a couple from when they were small, they live out their lonely lives inside a dusty toy box while they cuddle thier Xbox controllers instead. They will never get to understand the joy of companionship that my little furry friends gave to me all those years ago. I think that’s very sad.

Sorry teddies, you deserve so much better!

Thanks for reading 🐻

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Originally published at https://medium.com/never-stop-writing/i-want-my-teddies-back-e78fc34c9ab6