AIBU – For wanting to break up with my 23 year old partner because he sleeps with a stuffed animal?

OP: I do want to point out that he’s not without redeeming qualities though. He drives me to work at 5-6am most days even though he starts at 9am. Prioritises spending time with me above his friends, wants to play and watch games/shows that I like (even though I know he hates them), listens to me, holds hands etc. Things I’d expect most men to do regardless.

I’m afraid to say I think you have an unrealistic expectation of most men. It’s a shame you hadn’t dated some typical twats first so you could appreciate these diamond qualities that few men/people possess let alone all of the ones you’ve listed.

It sounds like you’ve been really lucky with your first bf, it’s just a shame you met him now rather than a few years down the line.

Everyone is different, but.... YANBU.

Yabu to let something imaginary and made up bother you so much

I'm 67 mislaid at the moment but I have a Jellycat Otter which I bought 2 years ago. It's lovely and soft to cuddle in bed. Off to find it

You're welcome 😊

You've said it bothers you @DeliciousDonuts , but you haven't really mentioned why, beyond a vague sense that grown men shouldn't have soft toys.

If that's the case, then investigate why you feel that grown men shouldn't have soft toys. What is the actual reason it's putting you off. Do you think it makes him more feminine, less masculine? Or are you just embarrassed that he talks to his friends about it?

You've said that this is your only real issue with him, and it seems daft to throw away such a good relationship over something so trivial. It it gives you the ick so much that you can't get past it, then so be it, but I think you owe it to both him and the relationship to interrogate exactly why it bothers you so much.

Maybe he's normal because of this? It gives him a creative outlet. I'm actually really impressed by this.

I'm 56 and sleep with an octopus plushie.

It's certainly pretty odd. But it would only bother me if any of the following applied:

• He was humping it or using it for wanking purposes
• He expected me also to share the bed with it when I stayed over
• He talked about it like it was real or was twee/weird about it

I sleep with two pillows - one horizontally to rest my head on and the other one vertically which I sort of hug. I've always slept like that. So it's possible your boyfriend is just using his toy dragon like that, I suppose.

However, if it bothers you, it is absolutely fine to break up with him for that reason. If something is a massive turn-off for you or you find it weird or uncomfortable, you are fully entitled to feel that way and you are fully entitled to split from someone over it. You don't other people to validate your choice.

Break up with him, and let someone else be with him who appreciates what he does, and his dragon. It sounds awesome.

That’s a really good point- think of it that way OP - with a twist! 🐉🐲

What does he do with the others as I’m fascinated does he sell them, donate mmmm

This will be my DS when he grows up.
He has to have pillows or something to lay on/cuddle to have a good night's sleep.

You said its only when your not there, so I don't see the issue.

It's something that can easily be kept between the 2 of you as its in the bedroom.

Also a particularly large one is basically just a colourful body pillow. I’d be a lot more concerned if he wasn’t washing it.

Has anyone seen the giant weighted anxiety stuffed animals? Maybe it’s similar

I’d take a soft boy who values comfort and isn’t ashamed to be connected to his emotions every annd any day. Unless there are other red flags I don’t see this as an issue.

My DP has to deal with me rotating between favourite stuffed animals. He is always happy to buy me a new one for a special occasion. It’s sweet, innocent, soft. They are nice to cuddle, they are good to use as a pillow. I like to feel the material, helps with anxiety. There’s nothing nefarious and I love him even more for being so comfortable with me being myself.

Funny that 🤣

I sleep with my childhood teddy bear when my husband is away, don’t think it’s a big deal.

Bloody hell, over £1200 for a not very impressive dragon. And small, apparently, at only 9 feet

How would you house a 20 feet long dragon. It would need it's own room. Or two.

I think it's fine. It's a creative hobby .. I can see how it's unusual but I think he sounds lovely and if this is the worst you've got on him then he's a good one!

I reckon you’ve just gone off him. There doesn’t have to be a rationale for that, but I think you’re trying to make one. The logical side of you is saying that he’s handsome, kind, emotionally intelligent and an all round good guy, but you’ve hit on the dragon toy as a kind of excuse.

Think about whether it’s him or whether it’s the dragon.

This x1000.

I am 61 and sleep with two stuffed chipmunks since my dogs died. I don't panic without them; it's lighthearted but i like somethng soft and furry for my hands to clutch. And i also use one of those long "body pillows" to keep my leg elevated and lower back comfortable.

YANBU to break up with anyone for any random reason you want or to find anything icky but I don’t think crafting a 20ft dragon every year for fun and sleeping with it is inherently icky in the way something like those men up who have sex dolls or wear rubber masks. I think it’s a slightly (or very) more off beat version of men who wear football shirts or have a stormtrooper costume or have a special display case for Lego. Out of that list of pick the dragon first.

If op's boyfriend made something like that (crocheted and knitted) then that is seriously impressive, especially given that his is twice the size of the one here.

I wasn't expecting it to be that expensive, though.

Apparently, the largest crocodile recorded was 21 feet long. So that gives some idea just how big this thing is.

It must weigh an absolute ton.

Are you sure it actually a stuffed toy dragon OP and not a real dragon that pretends to be a stuffed toy when you're around (yes, I know dragons don't actually exist).

Are you in the UK because if you are I'm surprised that you'd be talking about measurements in feet, considering your age. Perhaps you're getting feet and inches mixed up?

'Unnecessarily large'! 😂

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/839066281/unnecessarily-large-ryu-ramen-commission?clickkey=ad4cc640cf62ca11413daba0162f93970b33809a%3A839066281&clickksum=72b3eda2&external=1&ref=landingpagesimilarrlisting_top-1

Is this it?

www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1341238241/giant-dragon-pillow-9-long

It's only 9ft though.