To be sitting crying because we managed to leave DS1's beloved Teddy behind on holiday. And furious at Dh for not checking.

[SayMyNameSayIt]

Sorry if this sounds really stupid. DS1 has had Teddy since he was a baby, he's 6 and a half now. Teddy is so thin and threadbare now but DS1 loves him so much and would sleep with Teddy across his nose, inhaling him.

We were staying at a villa, I was packing all our stuff. Asked DH to pack food etc from the kitchen, and check the rooms. Got to the airport and suddenly I realised I wasn't sure if Teddy had been packed. Cue a big row and Dh getting all annoyed at being asked if he'd packed him or seen him.

I texted the villa rep who went straight there and asked the maids to check if Teddy had been caught up in the sheets etc, which I strongly suspected.

Rep has got back to me saying they've checked and he was back at the villa today to close it for the season and no sign. DS1 is trying to be all tough and pretend he's not that bothered. But I know he is, he said, teddy and I have been together for so long.

I know it's totally irrational and stupid but I'm actually sitting crying. He has loads of teddies and cuddly toys, but Teddy was special. I envisaged keeping him myself when ds1 was all grown up. I feel awful for him that I, myself, didn't think to check before we left.

Teddy wasn't glued to ds1's side, not by any means. Well, not for a long time anyway. Yes, ds1 could have thought to get him himself. I suppose I'm crying for the loss of that wee boy with his teddy as well.

I could get another the same, and ds2 has the same one. But ds1 said he would want him to be the same, which would take years. Think The Velveteen Rabbit.

I very very rarely post a thread, please don't shoot me down in flames. I'm honestly so upset, not a wind up. ( I think I'm just posting to vent, Dh is watching the footy and I doubt he'd understand how I feel anyway. )

[lilacmamacat]

Is there any news, Say?

ps. re littledragonmama - I once took a bear that someone had sat on a wall. We saw him early in the morning. I felt so sorry for him that I thought if he was still there at bedtime I'd go and get him. It was a bit of a hike when I went back at 11pm to check but he was there so I brought him home. Couldn't bear the thought of him being all alone through the night (how bad is that!). I reasoned that if someone really missed him they would have gone back and looked for him. Next time I'll put a 'found' poster up.

Oh and pps. I'm in Ireland so could send (slightly) foreign post cards.

[muchovino]

YANBU at all, a couple of years ago we left teddy in the cafe at Barcelona airport and realised just as the plane was taking off, DS was beside himself (as I was!), it was heart wrenching and an awful end to the holiday. On our return to the UK, DH tracked down the number for the cafe and fortunately a very helpful member of staff located ted (who was still there) and a friend who lives near Barcelona picked him up for us and was returned safely to DS a couple of weeks later who could not believe he had returned - he was overjoyed. There is hope, although it was a small miracle that we got him back! Needless to say, Ted is on lock down whilst travelling and never leaves our sight!

[MyBaby1day]

Oh , YADNBU, I have a puppet (my little Clifford) who I adore, he's been with me through everything and you can get so so attached to them it's unreal. But don't lose hope, why not start threads as suggested by another poster and even offer a financial reward for anyone who manages to get him back to you?. Love to your poor DS . I really hope you get him back.

[FortyDoorsToNowhere]

I would be gutted to lose my bear, I have had him since I was a newborn baby. He still sits on my bed. That bear have survived a lot ( even a house fire)

DC also have their bears and I would be gutted if they ever went missing.

I hope DB ( dear bear) turns up

[SayMyNameSayIt]

juiceOrtiz

Would it surprise you to know we already have Steiff Teddies?? To be fair, I got them in TKMaxx a few years ago; they were like explorer teddies with a messenger bag and mini teddy.

I said it was daddy bear and baby bear (they had a set each) and it was meant to represent Dh while he was away at work, with them.

Felt very posh at Steiffteddyness, though I had actually bought them Steiff teddy clothes from a shop near my work. Still got the clothes, fantastic quality, expensive but both boys wore them and still in very wearable condition.

Worn with plenty of high street, of course!!!! I still have the Steiff blanket and gro bag, am keeping them.

Havering now, apologies.

[DropYourSword]

we're all going on a bear hunt!

[SayMyNameSayIt]

And thank you again, I've read every reply --but am a bit too "relaxed" now to reply to all of them.

I do appreciate the time taken to reply, and the sentiments behind each story. Some real heartbreakers.
Goodnight everyone, will update when I have news. Very grateful to you all. (Was just really venting the other night, expected to be shot down in flames for going on holiday. So I really am very very grateful just to have been sympathised and empathised with. )

not bad for someone who has had a bottle of wine and now has to carry 2 DS up to bed

[SayMyNameSayIt]

Gawd help us,
That should say

[SayMyNameSayIt]

Update but not really a good one. Strange thing is, DS 2's teddy has disappeared!!! And he is teddy's brother!!! The exact same one except younger!

Teddy's brother definitely came home with us.
I remember tucking ds2 in with him the night we got home, which was last Friday. Hasn't been seen for a few nights. I've told ds2 that he's gone looking for teddy. Ds2 is 5 and very very sentimental, he's cried buckets tonight but mostly cos he's tired.

Full scale manhunt tomorrow for teddy's brother!!! I'm honestly not making any of this up. Teddy's brother has disappeared. Gaws help us.
I need more wine

[absentmindeddooooodles]

So hope teddy turns up. I still remember loosing mine when I was 5. We never found him.

Had a total panick attavk when ds lost his. Was so upsetting. He cried and cried......and didnt sleep for 3 nights.....until we foind it!

Another here willing to send letters/postcards.

[VanitasVanitatum]

I am 29 and was utterly horrified to lose my teddy recently.. We had been at my parents for Christmas (he doesn't travel at his advanced age) and first night back at home I couldn't find him in bed (I know, I know..) I got convinced he had fallen into the bin which was stupidly by the end of the bed, and been thrown out by our cleaners. My partner said no, of course he hasn't, we'll find him in the morning etc.. I insisted we go out in the snow and get all the bing bags out of the wheely bin and go through them...

And there he was!!! He actually had to be restuffed to get rid of the smell :( bin men came in the morning, so if I hadn't kicked up a huge fuss.. I still go cold when I think of him being taken away in the bins and buried in landfill!!

[GhostsInSnow]

Ooh actually, how about a small steiff animal? You can pick up the smaller ones around the £30 mark and obviously with having that famous button it will be something to treasure forever.

This Dinosaur is fab!

[GhostsInSnow]

You know, when I see bin men round here with teddies tied to the front I feel sorry for the bears, so to actually bin one, don't think I could do it.
Perhaps I'm overly sentimental, in fact I know I am as my toy dog on wheels who was my childhood companion is currently residing in our loft. He's 40, his wheels are long gone, bit wonky, one burnt eye from a stray spark on the old coal fire. Couldn't part with him for the world.

Saymyname, if he's not too fussed perhaps you could offer to replace Ted now with something more for a 'big boy'. No idea what for all that.

[CasanovaFrankenstein]

There is a special bit of hell for people who put teddies in bins! And people who crush baby prints... Whaaaaat?!

I'd be happy to send a postcard from teddy, I don't live anywhere as exciting as some places, but I am near Stratford where there is a teddy museum, presumably they have postcards.

[SayMyNameSayIt]

Still nothing to report. DS 1 isn't bothered. He came in to our room the other night/ actually morning, as he'd had a few bad dreams. Normally, I just say come on in beside us.

This would have been a time when he might have wanted teddy, but he was happy just to come in. I'm glad that he's not all upset though I really want him to be bereft, like me
as it would be really hard.

He is quite grown-up and sensible, and I've just been talking other teddies in with him at night. He's quite non-plussed!

Thank you to the poster who offered to send me a similar teddy! I'm not sure yet what we'll do regarding a replacement as he has lots of other teddies etc.

He's just made his wee brother cry, I need to go just now!!!

[SayMyNameSayIt]

MotherofthreeDragons
That's unbelievable. What a disgusting thing to do. I'm really sorry, that must have been heartbreaking.

[Dubjackeen]

OP, fingers crossed, I keep dropping in and out of the thread hoping that there is a happy ending. Some lovely stories here.

[notnowdarling]

Can totally empathise with you. When my eldest was very little, he lost his little bear at the park, and I brought two replacements so I'd always have a standby. More recently, on holiday this year my 9 year old DS lost his 'Tizzy' - a square of fabric he'd had since a baby and always slept with. On a daily basis we'd report to reception asking if it had been found - all to no avail. I thought it would be horrendous, but after asking after it for a couple of nights, he seemed to forget about it altogether. Perhaps it was just the right time. I know yours is a couple of years younger, so may not be so ready to move on, but I hope this gives you some consolation.

[Thatballwasin]

When I was four we went on holiday and stopped in a lay by on the way home. After we'd been back on the road a while I realised I'd lost my beloved teddy, a freebie with my first pair of slippers. Couldn't go back, was too far away.

I was very very upset for a short while but became resigned to it pretty quickly. I really loved that teddy but I don't mind now!

It may still turn up - as a poster said above it could be found in the laundry. Fingers crossed for you.

[MotherofthreeDragons]

Yanbu, of course, your poor DS and you,I learnt yesterday that the people we swapped houses with, got my DD1 baby foot prints and DSs baby hand prints crushed at the local tip :( I felt although my heart had been ripped out, these things are not replaceable

[KnittyFoxyMa]

I am still hoping you get teddy back, but if you don't, I have one of those bears we no longer use, and you are welcome to have it. I'm not sure it is the same, they have changed the design and do different colours, and the tummy machine bit no longer works, but it is not brand new, and would save you £30!!
My kids never really had attachment objects, but I certainly did and still do, and I totally get where you are coming from. My ex-dh never really understood the importance of cuddlies and lost things, but one thing I love about now-dp is he does, and once drove back to a beach the to look for a lost toy which I was upset to have lost, tho dd2 was unbothered!

[MmeLindor]

Sorry. Posting on ohone.

So many lovely stories.

OP
YANBU. DS lost his calliou bear and it took years before I found a replacement

He's a cool preteen who is quite happy to take calliou bear with him everywhere

[MmeLindor]

What a sob fest this thread is! So many l

[SuedeEffectPochette]

I am sorry to read the sad stories on this thread and I hope Teddy turns up. I got my mobile phone number printed onto those fabric name labels (for school etc) and sew one into/onto anything precious. When my children lose something and are upset I shrug and say, "it's just a thing. People are important but things aren't" in the hope that they will realise it's just stuff (and so we don't all get upset about it). I certainly would be upset in circumstances like this though, but I would probably not let my children see that I was.

[RedLentil]

Our 'soft bear' mysteriously acquired a Peruvian cousin, known as 'backup bear' after a similar crisis. 8 years on, soft bear is on a bean bad reading a strategically-placed magazine about iPhone apps. The extent to which a toy can become family is extraordinary.

Hoping for a happy outcome ...