Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I'm crying because of a lost toy - AIBU?

163 replies

Sycam0re · 28/04/2017 13:00

My dd lost her beloved Platypus (Jellycat make) at Disneyland after Easter. She has been extremely upset because she is so attached to him. It has been heartbreaking to see her sadness & I have been crying too - AIBU?

I don't think IABU because it has been so upsetting watching her distress. She even held a 'Goodbye Platypus Ceremony' in her bedroom, getting dressed up in her best clothes, writing an eulogy & singing a sad song before collapsing in tears. I also feel completely responsible as it was me who failed to stop her taking Platypus out to a restaurant to meet the princesses...I tried but gave in to her protest due to being in a hurry, thinking that I could monitor her platypus closely & then getting totally distracted by the princesses.

I have been desperately hunting for a replacement platypus but Jellycat stopped making him in 2009 & I have had no luck on eBay etc. It seems nigh on impossible to locate her platypus (Disneyland has not found it) or to find another one.

It's as if she has been bereaved...

OP posts:
RocknRollAlphabet · 28/04/2017 13:09

You could be making it worse for her. Of course it is understandable you are upset and more so that she is upset but you need to show her that it isn't the end of the world.

I think you crying is a bit much....sorry. Hope you can find a replacement or similar.

Iamtheresurrection · 28/04/2017 13:14

I'm far too attached to my DC's favourite toy so understand your crying.

AHedgehogCanNeverBeBuggered · 28/04/2017 13:21

That's so sad Sad I would be crying too!

Keep searching for one on eBay, try facebook too, one might turn up.

CatsCantFlyFast · 28/04/2017 13:26

It is sad but perhaps you can help her come to terms with it?
Have you a pic of it? I bet mn can help
Find a replacement

Hillarious · 28/04/2017 13:30

After having seen a friend go through this with her DD, I vowed not to let my DC become so attached to a particular toy. That worked well.

I did cry buckets when DC3's hamster died.

Original poster
Sycam0re · 28/04/2017 13:31

Don't worry, RocknRollAlphabet - I haven't been crying in front of her. I've been holding it together completely & only comforting her when she's been upset. Otherwise I've been distracting her. I cried later & alone because it was so stressful seeing how upset she was, searching in the chaos of Disneyland & watching her arrange a funeral.

I'm not remotely attached to platypus myself.

OP posts:
nigelforgotthepassword · 28/04/2017 13:36

Dd2 has a toy that has slept with her every night of her life bar 2-when he got left at MiL's by mistakes (exh in charge of packing). Those two nights were awful for dd, and although she is much older now she still struggles to sleep without him-so he's the first thing I pack when we are going away and I always put him somewhere safe.
I genuinely quietly panic a bit if I don't know where he is Blush. Dd would probably be ok without him now-she would be very sad were he lost but she would get over it eventually.Id be more upset I think!

Changedjustforthisonly · 28/04/2017 13:39

Have you tried contacting Jellycat themselves?
What about the Buy/Sell/Trade site on FB - might be worth posting on there if you haven't already

RebeccaWithTheGoodHair · 28/04/2017 13:41

I'm not remotely attached to platypus myself.

that made me laugh Grin

Hope you manage to find a replacement at some point.

Justmadeperfectflapjacks · 28/04/2017 13:42

Could you send her a letter from the toy?
Hi x. Having an extended holiday but here is £20 to go shopping for a new friend to keep you company until I return.
Love from toy.

Timeforabiscuit · 28/04/2017 13:42

We had this with monkey, much loved and left in a cinema foyer (came back 3 mins later so some bugger swipped it!).

Couldnt find the same but managed to get a close match, told dd that the cinema didnt know it was hers so gave monkey a good wash - the new one also had glittery eyes which of course was because he had nothing to do except watch films for two weeks.

She bought it Hmm

KenDoddsDadsDog · 28/04/2017 13:45

Mumsnet have come good on toys like this before (a maileg mouse!)
An appeal on here maybe ?!

PandasRock · 28/04/2017 13:46

I feel for you.

All 3 of mine have favourite toys without whom they would be bereft and unable to sleep.

Dd1 is 12, and has had hers since she was a few months old. Thankfully he now stays in her bed.

Dd2 is 10, has had hers since she was 1, and while he generally stays at home, she would still argue the case for a special day/meeting.

Ds is only 4, so his animal has been with us the shortest time, but he is still firmly attached and does want him around a lot more - I live in fear of losing him!

Keep hunting - you never know when one might turn up.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 28/04/2017 13:47

I was going to suggest an appeal on here too, @KenDoddsDadsDog - great minds think alike!

GaelicSiog · 28/04/2017 13:51

DD lost her panda she was very attached to somewhere between the hotel and the airport in Tokyo when she was 4. She was distraught. Possibly the longest flight of my entire life.

Panda sent her a postcard from Australia and told her he was going on an adventure, but he missed her lots and lots. From there I think he went to various American states, lots of European countries, South Africa, Russia and eventually he went to China where he was introduced to a wild panda family and decided he wanted to stay with his species. all conveniently places Mammy's friends were able to get her postcards We had a world map to track Panda's journey and we talked about how pandas are endangered in the wild, what that means and why pandas need to keep having more panda babies so pandas don't become extinct.

Then she got a package in the mail. It was from Panda in China, he'd met a nice travelling fox who wanted to come home to Ireland, and Panda knew just the girl to look after him Wink

Would something like that work, OP?

cottonweary · 28/04/2017 13:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SapphireStrange · 28/04/2017 13:58

I still remember being wrenched with grief when I dropped my favourite toy out of my pushchair and we couldn't find it, so I totally empathise with your DD; and it must be distressing for you to watch her being so upset.

But I think it sounds quite healthy that she held a ceremony. Doesn't that mean she's processing her sadness? (sorry if this is nonsense: I don't have kids or know very many!).

fluffandsnuff · 28/04/2017 14:00

My son lost his toy fox- I was devastated- it is a horrible feeling. Maybe get DD involved in the search? (I'm thinking designing posters to send off to Disneyland, that kind of thing). Probably won't make the slightest difference practically but I bet she's feeling pretty helpless and it might help her

Efferlunt · 28/04/2017 14:00

I'd be so upset if DS lost his bunny. It was his transference object. I stuck it in my bra we he was a baby so it smelled of me at night. I've written my number and the offer of a £20 reward on its bum.

cdtaylornats · 28/04/2017 14:01

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/351226073143?clk_rvr_id=1207832917621&rmvSB=true

Any of these similar?

GaelicSiog · 28/04/2017 14:04

cotton Fox had a grand time travelling China, but he longed for home. Never once did he get a decent stew and his little foxy ears missed the sound of bagpipes. (He got over this very quickly when we went to a Celtic festival upon his return to his homeland Grin )

WankersHacksandThieves · 28/04/2017 14:04

There are other toy platypuses but being honest it's not always worth getting a replacement as there is a tendency for them to reject them or simply not be bothered anymore by the time it arrives.

DS2 lost his beloved kitten at Centerparcs and I trawled the websites and found an exact replacement which arrived a couple of weeks after the loss - he was completely disinterested. He didn't want a kitten that looked like the same, he wanted his kitten or none. there was no emotional attachment to the new one. It was just a stuffed toy.

Lunde · 28/04/2017 14:05

Have you called Disneyland lost property or the restaurant?

Years ago DD left her favourite hat in a cafe in Stockholm - we called and they posted it home for us

KurriKurri · 28/04/2017 14:06

This might be obvious,but have you contacted Disneyland ? - they have a fairly efficient lost property service ( a friend lost something in the Orlando one and got it back in less than a week despite the hugeness of the place)