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AIBU?

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Original poster

To refuse to play along with imaginary friend

59 replies

ImConfusedHelp · 27/08/2024 20:56

My DC (8) has decided they have an imaginary friend. I am sick to death of hearing “Marcus is hungry” (Marcus is the imaginary friend) or “Marcus wants to go to the park” or whatever other nonsense they come up with. I honestly don’t know what to do I’m sick of hearing about ‘Marcus’ and think 8 is far too old to have an imaginary friend. I’ve tried to explain to DC we all know Marcus isn’t real but they just start crying every time. AIBU to refuse to play along or even discuss ‘Marcus’ anymore?

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MarieVanGoethem · 28/08/2024 17:03

My wee sister had TWO imaginary friends, both called Eric. Good Eric & Naughty Eric. Naughty Eric was very VERY bold & wreaked absolute havoc on our household for a few years…

Enoughwiththisshit · 28/08/2024 16:58

MonsteraMama · 27/08/2024 22:07

He had a polka dot umbrella for the sun I believe. My mam wrote down all the Klaus stories somewhere, I'll have to dig them out one day. Tim Burton would probably love them.

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Brilliant!!

dizzydizzydizzy · 27/08/2024 23:09

DB is 52 and he still has an imaginary dog.

BehindTheSequinsandStilettos · 27/08/2024 22:33

Willyoushutthefrontdoor · 27/08/2024 22:29

Ahhhh. Good ole Soren Lorenson. My daughter loved C and L and she had her own imaginary friend...John Robinson. Even she got sick of him...After about 5 months he apparently moved to America 🤣🤣

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Did she ghost him?! Wink

I'm here all week. Try the veal.

BehindTheSequinsandStilettos · 27/08/2024 22:32

dontlikechanges · 27/08/2024 21:09

Could be a ghost he's made friends with.

Grin
Bless You Comedy GIF by CBS
User89174648495 · 27/08/2024 22:29

Our son has an imaginary pet and I think it’s quite sweet.

If you ask him questions about Marcus he will answer for himself and you might get an insight into his mind . You should try with a few on his favourite food, activities, what he doesn’t like etc. I did this and it was a good way to have a chat about his day at school etc.

Willyoushutthefrontdoor · 27/08/2024 22:29

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Ahhhh. Good ole Soren Lorenson. My daughter loved C and L and she had her own imaginary friend...John Robinson. Even she got sick of him...After about 5 months he apparently moved to America 🤣🤣

MissyB1 · 27/08/2024 22:28

It's normal. My ds had his friend "Gong" who lived in Bristol (we lived nowhere near Bristol)! Gong appeared to be staying long term in our house though 🤔
Everything we did Gong had already bloody done it, he'd got the fricking T shirt 🙄 A little know it all that Gong!

Ds is 15 now and only vaguely remembers, although he insists it was a dream.

Confused19831983 · 27/08/2024 22:28

dontlikechanges · 27/08/2024 21:09

Could be a ghost he's made friends with.

😂

sunseaandsoundingoff · 27/08/2024 22:27

I have an imaginary friend and I'm 38. It's nice to have someone to complain to or bounce ideas off.

CaspianPlover · 27/08/2024 22:26

I once bought a bus ticket for an imaginary friend, luckily the bus driver just gave me a blank one and a cheery smile.

PuzzledParrott · 27/08/2024 22:25

He’ll grow out of it. Unless, of course, it actually is an invisible, vengeful entity, in which case you probably should just take it to the park, like it wants.

Noseybookworm · 27/08/2024 22:25

I actually think it's quite sweet that he has an imaginary friend! None of mine did but I probably would have played along with it. It's just a phase and doesn't last forever and it obviously upsets him when you're dismissive or cross. It sounds like he's using Marcus to voice his own needs and wants? Is he a little anxious or shy?

Moier · 27/08/2024 22:25

My eldest Grandson had one from age of four until 8.
He was called " little man".
He's 19 now with Aspergers and we laugh about it.
I was once on a bus with him.. and this woman sat down near us and Grandson started crying and pointing saying " that lady has sat on little man" .. l had to explain and she kindly moved.
When he was 8 he watched the Snowman film... and decided little man had melted like the snowman and was no longer here..
But we did accommodate little man as much as possible.

Beforetheend · 27/08/2024 22:21

We had an imaginary dog for a while.

Cinnamonkie · 27/08/2024 22:20

Hecatoncheires · 27/08/2024 22:08

@MonsteraMama Never mind Marcus, please tell us more about Klaus! Why did he have no skin?

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Yes! Like he was an imaginary friend who turned out to be a ghost who died in a house fire and was evil because that's what it sounds like to me!

Mummyratbag · 27/08/2024 22:18

@Couchpotato3 I love this!

Couchpotato3 · 27/08/2024 22:17

My son had an imaginary employee, named Blenkinsopp. Whenever things went wrong, he would get sacked.

You're the adult here. Play along and use Marcus to guide the conversation in the direction you want. It's really not that hard - see previous posters' suggestions.

Edingril · 27/08/2024 22:16

I played along with things as it was just a small thing of there was an issue I would have addressed it, my child is older but there is still make believe running jokes we have

Round3HereWeGo · 27/08/2024 22:14

As PP have said, you will look back fondly.

Mummyratbag · 27/08/2024 22:13

My brother was my imaginary dog

marcopront · 27/08/2024 22:13

My daughter had an imaginary friend called Fred. He was a dual national like her and I think his parents we're also separated. He had a suitcase that could turn into a car or a plane. He would travel with us.

I think he helped her process life.

cookiebee · 27/08/2024 22:11

You should watch ‘Drop Dead Fred’ and be very glad Marcus isn’t anything like him, in-fact you’ll be relieved that Marcus is so outdoorsy and polite. I always wanted an imaginary friend as a kid, but just couldn’t retain one, just couldn’t keep up the act with myself, I was a sceptical little bastard even at 6!

lanthanum · 27/08/2024 22:11

DD was friends with the queen fairy. Apparently when people say they don't believe in fairies, the queen is fairly safe from dying because all the rest will die first. When she told me about how fairies reproduce, I asked whether, if I met someone else who was friends with a fairy and asked them, they would tell me the same thing? She told me they might not, because the fairy might be a different species...

Clementine22 · 27/08/2024 22:10

They are 8 … a child.
Why are you wanting to make them cry over this.
Yes you are being utterly unreasonable and imo cruel.
Imaginary friends are actually a sign of intelligence.

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