Liking children’s things as an adult

[DuvetCovers]

As a child I loved things like Flower Fairies and Brambly Hedge, but was never allowed them as my mum didn’t approve (very much not her aesthetic).

The problem is that I still love them, despite being a lawyer in my 40s with kids and a large mortgage.

Very tempted to buy some books. Does anyone else do things like this? Don’t want to end up a mad old lady in a house full of dolls and doilies 😂

DD1 is 18 and just bought herself a little SF squirrel family, just to have in her room as she still loves them too.

There is a big crossover in my head with Brambly Hedge and we intend to watch the DVD again if I can find it. The Winter Story is gorgeous.

Also , how many of us will be unashamedly watching The Snowman ⛄️ on Christmas Eve?

This is the loveliest thread! I adored Brambley Hedge and still do, and I still miss my epic Sylvanian Families village (I had the mansion, the bakery, the caravan, the schoolhouse and several houses, as well as probably 30 characters, so a whole town basically).

It makes me a little sad that you have to ask, OP. Of course it’s acceptable. Smart adults, such as Roald Dahl and C.S.Lewis, understand that children’s things are often the most magical, so you’re in very good company.

I run audio books through the night to help me sleep and children's books are the best! Low conflict, cosy stories (I can recommend Jacqueline Wilson's revisiting of The Faraway Tree, especially the Christmas one!) are brilliant for helping me unwind. I also rebought a copy of 'Silver Snaffles', which had been a favourite book when I was young.
I find that children's books are read in a very different way to the way I deal with adult literature - it's comforting to sink into a story I know very very well and throws me back to a time when all I had to worry about was the Secret Seven not finding the smugglers!

This really made me smile :)

I have a large hand made doll house in my bed room filled with porcelain dolls, beautiful victorian looking wooden furniture, a servants quarter like downton abbey and lots and lots of cats and dogs. I inherited it from my mum (who had it made by her own design when she was 30-something). The whole thing has cost thousands over the years. I'm 44 and I love it.

Yes. We moved house in the summer and, while I was dealing with the mayhem of sorting through the boxes, I listened to Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I found it very relaxing and soothing as it took me back to being eight years old. It calmed me so that I was able to work methodically on sorting through the boxes.

I've just remembered - a couple of years ago I gave eldest DD (30) a complete set of the 'Sophie' books. She absolutely adored them when she was small and modelled her entire life on Sophie. She thought it was a bit odd as a present, but now she's started re-reading them and she gets what I'm on about!

Not so much toys, but books- for instance, I'm currently rereading What Katy Did Next. A few weeks ago I reread the Little House on the Prairie series.

I have a particular favourite for this time of year too- The Thirteen Days of Christmas by Jenny Overton.

I think it gives my mind an escape from adult responsibilities- I find them very soothing.

Do what you like. It's not hurting anyone. My 45 year old sister still watches cartoons and carries a kid's backpack as her purse.

I play wrestled with my ex in my 40s and i wear a Snoopy watch and I'm now early 50s.

Thirteen Days of Christmas is one of my all time favourite books 🙂

Buy them! If you can’t buy things as an adult with your own money, when can you?!

I went into Smyths the other day, but ended up spending ages looking at all the Barbies and Little Mermaid dolls. I have such fond memories of playing with them as a kid 😍

@TheCountessofFitzdotterel I'm so glad someone else not only knows about that book, but loves it too!

But who's going to know?

I bought a rocking horse because I'd always wanted one. I imagine people think I've had it since childhood. It's largish and I'm smallish 🎠👀 ⚖️🤔 and yes, I did 🏇 😆

I still have the beautiful big rag doll I was given for Christmas as a child. She's old and very delicate, with raggy plaits, but DC also loves her.

I also have an old scented strawberry shortcake doll with the tiniest trace of fragrance left.

Other treasured possessions are my beautifully bound set of Swallows and Amazons books and a complete box set of Beatrix Potter. I also loved the Katy books and like Clover, was a little bit in love with Rose Red.

There's also nothing like Blyton's adventure stories for sheer escapism. Snubby's invention of the Green Hands Gang story in The Rilloby Fair Mystery, which then becomes suspiciously real and haunts him until the end of the book, was one of my absolute favourites.

Go for it. I considered rereading Mallory Towers recently and I am 45. Maybe it’s some escapism.

I've got a Miffy sandwich toaster and a massive collection of girls' annuals from the 60s onwards. What harm is it doing 😊

Yes of course go for it, you can be a lovely successful lawyer 40 something mum and still go ahead and buy this childhood item it's all absolutely fine

Love the tree. I have the yule log but want the mince pie and Christmas cake slice too.

My little snowman arrived.

Another vote for getting the bear.

If you live alone you're probably already weird, just embrace it already!

This is why Mumsnet needs a Like button.

(In case the image doesn't show up, it's a stuffed fabric Christmas Tree teddy/squish mallow with its seat belt on in the back of the car. Presumably heading to its new home to be loved and cuddled.)

Have you watched the TV series on CBBC? You can still get it on iplayer. It's fab!