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. )

Each of my DSs still sleep with the soft toy they have had since birth. Actually sleep holding them. They are nearly 18 and 15.

They would be v sad if anything happened to them.

YA definitely NBU.

So sad for you. My mother still remembers sadly losing her bear out of a train window when she was six (she's 68 now).

Maybe the best thing you can do is make something up about why teddy felt the need to stay. Your DS might find it hard at first but growing out of soft toys starts at this age and goes on for a few years. at least you won't have to worry about him "needing" his bear in a few years when his friends don't bother anymore.
Do you have any photo's of teddy on holiday?

It would be worth contacting the villa again, or their laundry service. As a rule everything goes in laundry bags and then comes back IME. So they may get a clean bear back.

When I worked in the industry I spent half my time posting teddies.

Cake I'm 33 and I still sleep with have my teddy that I've had since I was a baby and would be devo if I lost him!

YANBU OP.

Completely understand.

We lost dd1's teddy at school. Stuck in a locked classroom for the holidays. All by himself, sad, lonely, etc, dd1 bereft. She was so glad to get to school and find him safe and sound.

Dd2 lost hers recently too. Had it for years. Not the slightest bit bothered. I was more upset than she was. Convinced myself we'd taken it somewhere and lost it. Found it up a tree in the garden. Bedraggled and filthy. She was glad to get it back though. I was ecstatic.

Fingers crossed your teddy turns up. They'll probably get in touch with the agent and she'll let you know and you can have an emotional reunion.

Oh sydlexic did you? You star.

YANBU to be upset about losing ted, what a shame after all those years. I really feel for you and I totally understand how sad you must feel. DD1 has a special ted and I'd be so upset to lose it now (she is 7 and has had it from about 3 months old) and I know I would have a little cry. At this age children are starting to spread their wings and you're having to let go bit by bit, it's bittersweet.

Could you ring the rep again tomorrow just I case the maid has found it after all? Just incase. Did they look under the bed? I hope your DS is ok. I don't know what to suggest, other than getting him another ted but I know it won't be the same at all.

I lost a toy frog when I was 6.

I threw it up into the air in the front garden and it never came down. It just went higher and higher and disappeared. My dad searched the garden, looked on the caravan roof, never did find it.

OK, tomorrow, get on the phone to the travel company, see if they can help you. It's worth a couple of calls and an e-mail to see if you can get it found, offer to pay for couriering.

at saying it isn't dh fault as the op should have checked. What was the point in asking the dh to look if she was then going to have to recheck after him.

Yanbu. We (DH) left Sean the Sheep in a hotel room we were staying in as we had to get up at stupid oclock for a flight. Managed to get him back but it was awful feeling.
Email and keep phoning, teddy has to be somewhere.

I sympathise. DD3 aged 7 left her Tiger in Rhodes this year. She'd been given him the day she was born and I almost cried at the airport when I realised we'd left him in the hotel.

Luckily the wonderful Guest Services Manager posted him back to us!!

YANBU to be sad. I hope they find it in the laundry and Teddy is returned.

I was helping DS1(18) sort out his wardrobe recently. He found the monkey he has had since he was a baby. It has a heart shape worn out of the fur on the back where it has been cuddled so much. He was so thrilled that he still has it, it now sits on a shelf in his room!

Oh bless him!

I would be sad too DS is 6 and a cuddly Eeyore is his best pal He would be inconsolable if he were lost.

Totally not unreasonable. Last year we got on a plane to fly to Orlando and just before we were about to take off I asked DS (8) where Timmy was (his bear). Timmy was no where to be found. DS was in floods of tears:(

As soon as we landed we called my parents who called Heathrow and Timmy had been found under a table in Cafe Rouge. He enjoyed a holiday in Hotel Lost Property and we collected him when we got home. DS was so happy to get him back.

I don't think it matters how old children are. Losing your bear can be devastating :(

I think if teddy doesn't turn up could you write DS a postcard/letter from him? Could become a regular thing, Teddy's travels

Everything has been unpacked and definitely not there. It was a villa in Spain so not a hotel. The villa company ate great, and the rep has really tried so hard to help.

I might contact last year's rep, whom I know quite well now (I took her a wee present this year and she was delighted, never been given a present before! ), and ask her to see if she can do a double check of the laundry. I'm certain that that's where he is.

I'm sorry I can't remember who said this up thread, but it IS like a mini -bereavement. Teddy has seen ds1 through a few spells in hosp (nothing serious), and just, we'll, his life really.

I think someone else said or implied it's kind of what teddy represents (or maybe I said that) and that's true.

Thank you again for all your replies and kind words, I'm glad to see I wasn't crazy after all!!!! I'm sorry I can't reply individually. I'm on my phone and its hard to scroll up and down to try and reply to everyone. But I'm very very grateful to all of you who have taken the time to reply to someone who has lurked for a couple of years, and posted occasionally. (Other name - Cubbie. I changed it on the thread about Breaking Bad, my fave programme).

Thanks again and I hope there are no typos or auto corrects that I haven't noticed.
(I certainly don't expect the rep or villa company to dance attendance round me, by any means!!! Just if they are able to help. I've always found them fantastic in the past, that's why we go with them. though we won't be going next year unless we win the lottery as we are back up the creek without a paddle! Shouldn't have gone this year!!!!

I get it, DD still has her favourite cuddly toy at Uni.
But if your DH looked, AND the villa staff looked and still couldn't find it, that bear is in a sneaky and excellent hiding place. So I don't think anyone is to blame.

YANBU

I lost my "teddy" whilst on a cruise - assumed it had been picked up in the sheets. We asked the cabin staff but after a few days they said they said that the teddy (pink >40 years old and very threadbare) wasn't in the laundry.
So off we go to guest services - teddy very special to me, and reported it lost so that when it did turn up perhaps on the next cruise they could return it to me.

Off I go to do an exercise class, DH goes back to cabin. About 10 minutes later, knock on the door & there are 2 rather large security guards who have come to search the cabin in case I am claiming that I have lost my teddy but in reality it us in my case (presume they have had people claiming jewellery / expensive items are lost and then claiming from company)

Poor DH had to describe to the guards what the teddy looked like, and after about 10 minutes they left having checked that the teddy wasn't hiding in our luggage/ behind the bed.

Surprisingly enough, despite the maids earlier assurance that the teddy wasn't in the laundry, the teddy turned up later that day after I understand the security guards started to check staff lockers - although quite why anyone else would want my teddy I don't know.

YANBU! I cried at the loss of my beloved Snoopy cuddly toy. He had been my first Christmas present. Probably should mention I was at uni when I realised he'd not turned up after moving out of halls...

Oh, losing dear toys is a heartbreaker! On our summer holiday this year we managed to lose four toys in one day, that was a bloody awful night with a bereft 4 year old. Luckily we got three back the next day, but I felt like a bereavement counsellor that night. I was also really sad about the toys too, they become very special to you as well.

Do everything you can to get someone to find teddy, people understand! I really hope you're all reunited.

not at all op totally totally get you.

my second ds( now 22 so recovered) had an old smelly cit bumper ( that was what we used to out against the inside if the cot) he bloody loved it into big bed and beyond.

we got burgled and The bastards cut themselves on glass and used it to wrap round their cuts!!!

it went!!! cue absolute pandemonium.

he went to my wardrobe after a huge cry and got a scarf to make a new 'cuddly'

do what you can and sure he will be fine but totality sympathise.

Aw poor him. Genuinely hope you get good news. I dread the day we lose Bunny (dd is nearly 7). Have bought replacements in advance, but never the same. He did once get lost at Bluwater but was posted home by a kind lost property man.
Will never forget phoing up to give the description ' Umm, a greyish, dirty jellicat bunny, probably stinks'. THey prob had hundreds of similar reports!

YANBU at all! Horrible thing to happen. I remember weeping buckets about a lost hankie as a child. My DD is 5yo and is distraught when we lose anything, let alone something so precious.

If you ever do feel like smiling about it, do watch the Peppa Pig holiday episodes - Peppa leaving her teddy behind (including at the villa) is a running joke and the police get involved...

I hope teddy turns up. (((Hugs)))

Please do let us know if you want teddy to send postcards to your DS? You could PM your address to volunteers? MNers have done this before - makes out that teddy is having a wonderful adventure and it might buy you some time to track down a lookalike on eBay?