My Mom and I were recently reminiscing about my childhood and the topic of my imaginary friend, Hugo, came up. My Mom indulged Hugo and involved him in our family life, setting a place at the table for meals, buying him treats etc. My Mom had a benign view of Hugo until I we were looking through old family photo albums at my grandmother's house and I happened upon a photo of a little boy. I excitedly pointed to the little boy and announced "that's Hugo".
The photograph was my Mom's brother who died in early childhood. Prior to seeing the photo, I had never known about Hugo or seen photos of him as my grandmother or Mom never mentioned him. From that day, my Mom was wary of my Hugo. She recalled when I stopped talking about him and eventually, in her words, drew up the courage to ask about his whereabouts. I told her Hugo was poorly and had to go for a special sleep. Hugo told me the special sleep was a sleep from which he would never wake up.
I have vague memories of this little boy who kept an only child company for a time. I never think about him but since this conversation with my Mom, I'm wondering if he was a figment of my imagination or, was he my little uncle who came to spend some time with a niece he would never otherwise meet?
Are there any mumsnetters out there who had an imaginary friend or shed light on my experience.