Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Giving things human emotions

39 replies

delilabell · 08/06/2023 06:45

Firstly I'm aware I'm completely crazy. Ive always had anxiety, I'm also being referred for adhd.
BUT
Does anyone else gove things hunan emotions?
Like I used a shower gel I'm not keen in because it hadn't been used much so would feel unliked.
I eat the sweet I don't like as much because it would feel jealous.
Does anyone else do this?!

OP posts:
heldinadream · 08/06/2023 07:07

Anthropomorphism. Google it. Old as time.
Probably connected with certain religious feelings. Psychologically speaking it's mechanism is that of projection.

Original poster
delilabell · 08/06/2023 07:11

Totally get that I'm projecting. Didn't realise their was a proper name for it!

OP posts:
MyMachineAndMe · 08/06/2023 07:37

Kind of. I would feel bad if I knocked or broke something belonging to my dc or husband, almost as if by hurting it I'm hurting the person it belongs to.

Begonne · 08/06/2023 07:40

It makes getting rid of teddy bears nearly impossible 😂

I have adhd and find I’m prone to this kind of thing when I’m under a lot of mental stress. For me, it’s a sign that I need to slow right down.

LakeTiticaca · 08/06/2023 07:43

I did this as a child but grew out of it. I'd actually forgotten all about it until I read this post!!

Random789 · 08/06/2023 07:49

I do it with my plants all the time, as I'm sure a lot of people do.

I have some orchids that need misting every day. Near to them is a calathea that doesn't (I think) need as much misting, but I spray it anyway in case it feels left out.

If I compliment any one of my plants I have to tell all the other plants within hearing that they are doing very well too.

salamithumbs · 08/06/2023 07:50

I don't think I usually think of objects as having feelings but I do remember once buying a bottle of water at the shop and picking one where the bottle was misshapen and bent over, it looked like a little old man hunched over and I felt sorry for it thinking that no one would choose it 🤣 my friend was with me and asked if I'd picked it cos it looked so sad so it must not be too unusual to think that way!
I used to fully think my dolls and teddies were alive though (I blame toy story) and even though I know they're not now, I feel bad if a doll falls on the floor, as if it's hurt 🙈 I washed my daughter's teddy recently and did feel bad for hanging it on the line by one ear!

MotherOfClogs · 08/06/2023 07:54

Does anyone NOT do this?

RequiresUpdating · 08/06/2023 07:55

I don't really think they have feelings, but I do name a lot of objects. The car has a name (and is male so I can swear at it without guilt) so do all of our house plants. Sometimes I put the plates on the bottom of the pile rather than on the top when I'm unloading the dishwasher as I feel all the plates should get a chance at being a plate (and I worry eventually there'll be a colour difference).

The first time DD asked me to buy her something in a shop was because "it looks lonely on the shelf". It did, even though it was in amongst a bunch of others.

heldinadream · 08/06/2023 08:06

delilabell · 08/06/2023 07:11

Totally get that I'm projecting. Didn't realise their was a proper name for it!

if you totally get that you are projecting, you are well on your way to full maturity and wisdom, so there's nothing to sweat here! 😄

merrymelodies · 08/06/2023 08:09

I do this with objects that seem special or unusual. And pleasing to me. Some of DDs dolls, a smooth round paperweight rock, my raggedy old security blanket ❤️...

Chatillon · 08/06/2023 08:18

I got to the end of a loo roll once. Admittedly there was little on it to begin with, but that’s another story. I eyed the bare cardboard tube, said a little prayer, then used it to wipe my arse. Does that count?

ThisWormHasTurned · 08/06/2023 08:26

I do this. I have ADHD and Autism. For example, I’ll imagine the last two tea bags in the tea bag pot get all excited that their time is coming, “You’ll be next Dave!” then be disappointed if I refill on top of them! 😂

ThreeKneeRepeater · 08/06/2023 08:29

I always have to arrange soft toys in displays in shops so that they can ‘see out’ and are sitting comfortably.
I’ve been known to purchase a lonely last one left.
And as for getting rid of them? Ha.

mondaytosunday · 08/06/2023 09:29

Yes this is totally normal - like when you are kids and tuck your teddy in bed so it's comfy. I don't do it to every day household objects (like I don't think my other pans are jealous of the one pan I use 90% of the time), but I do think my car has a personality of sorts!
My son takes care of all the flower boxes at work (he's 19) and has given them all names and goes in to water them on his day off if in the neighbourhood to water them. My daughter definitely worries that her lost scissors is missing his pencil case mates!

JamSandle · 08/06/2023 09:35

Yes I've done this since I was a child. Not with every single object but certain ones: toys, rooms, certain furniture. I don't find it weird at all.

skgnome · 08/06/2023 09:39

Of course I do it
i once (was 10) made my mum buy an orange in the supermarket since it rolled off the shelf and “looked sad” - no idea what happened to the orange once we bought it, but I couldn’t leave it there
I say good morning to my car
list goes on and on….

timefornewme2023 · 08/06/2023 09:48

I love this ! I definitely do it with my kids soft toys etc and now we do it with our spices thanks to this sketch!

KitchenSinkLlama · 08/06/2023 09:50

I do it. I worry things will get lonely when they are last one left. I get upset when I see certain things discarded (no rhyme or reason about what the 'thing' is).

BriarHare · 08/06/2023 09:51

I do it with my dog.

sIowhand · 08/06/2023 09:52

I always feel obliged to eat all the food on my plate because otherwise what's left will be separated from the rest of its family... that's what I tell myself anyway

littleblackcat27 · 08/06/2023 09:54

Random789 · 08/06/2023 07:49

I do it with my plants all the time, as I'm sure a lot of people do.

I have some orchids that need misting every day. Near to them is a calathea that doesn't (I think) need as much misting, but I spray it anyway in case it feels left out.

If I compliment any one of my plants I have to tell all the other plants within hearing that they are doing very well too.

😂😂. Love this!

booksandcats22 · 08/06/2023 09:57

BriarHare · 08/06/2023 09:51

I do it with my dog.

I think dogs are a bit different because they do have emotions.

Robotik · 08/06/2023 09:59

ThreeKneeRepeater · 08/06/2023 08:29

I always have to arrange soft toys in displays in shops so that they can ‘see out’ and are sitting comfortably.
I’ve been known to purchase a lonely last one left.
And as for getting rid of them? Ha.

I do this too 🤣

Untrained · 08/06/2023 10:04

I remember my Mum doing this to me as a kid and I did it to my nieces when they were little... they've eaten most of their lunch but there's a few peas (for example) left on the plate; (cue squeaky little voice) "Please eat us, we want to go with our friends! They got to go down the slide (throat) into your tummy, PLEASE can we go down it too?!" Then if this spot of play acting worked I'd have to make a faint 'whee' noise as they swallowed said peas (cos obvs thats the noise they'd make as they were going down the slide!)

Swipe left for the next trending thread