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Original poster

Help! Replacement broken bauble

82 replies

Baubletears · 23/12/2023 00:36

Help! Apologies for shamelessly using AIBU for traffic.

Disaster struck our house this evening when DDs 'my first Christmas bauble' from Mamas and Papas (2007) got knocked off the tree and smashed. She's a sentimental 16 year old who is absolutely gutted about this.

Yes, there were tears. Yes, some people will think tears are over the top; but, like I say, she's a sentimental old thing who has always spoken about having these baubles on her own tree one day.

We're going to attempt a glue job, and a new one wouldn't really be the same, but I'd like to try to get hold of another one if possible in addition, in case our attempts are futile.

Does anyone have any ideas? I've tried ebay and general searches to no avail. It's a large red bauble with 'My first Christmas 2007' written on and a drawing of Father Christmas on it. It came in a largish square box. I appreciate its not the type of thing people sell, but if I can find another or there's a magic Christmas fairy out there who can help, it might just save Christmas!

OP posts:
ofestivetree · 23/12/2023 07:24

I actually really like the fillable bauble idea it's clever.

ChristmasTreeCookies · 23/12/2023 07:28

@BetsyBobbins

Maybe you should stay off mumsnet if you are this easily triggered.

Original poster
Baubletears · 23/12/2023 07:33

ofestivetree · 23/12/2023 07:24

I actually really like the fillable bauble idea it's clever.

So do I! And this is the very reason I took to mumsnet - I knew there'd be some great ideas that we wouldn't necessarily thing of ourselves. People unknown each other helping each other out. It's what it should all be about.

OP posts:
Iwantmyoldnameback · 23/12/2023 07:38

Another who thinks even an identical replacement wouldn't be the same. I like the idea of putting the pieces in a transparent ball and maybe putting a small picture of it in the outside. And I'd be devastated too if it was my child's.

That doesn't mean I don't care about anything else but sadly I can do little about any of the awful things happening in the world apart from donate to food banks and my chosen charities, given the OP and her daughters soft hearts I bet they do the same.

Pinkychilla · 23/12/2023 07:39

In my local area there is a free cycle local Facebook page and people often put up things like this that they are looking for or just the local Facebook page for your area maybe worth a try

Beargrumps22 · 23/12/2023 07:42

some nasty sods here. yes, we have had an awful year including bereavement and I fully get what posters daughter means. in later years when memories are all she has it is nice for her to share memories with her kids. btw have you tried vinted

LillyLeaf · 23/12/2023 07:46

My son broke his blue 2020 one a few weeks ago and I couldn't find a replacement. It was from my parents and I feel really bad. I even contacted mamas and papas but no reply.

pilates · 23/12/2023 07:47

@BetsyBobbins scroll on by - I’m sure your posts haven’t made you feel better.

Op, I hope you manage to fix the bauble. I understand the sadness. We have a lot of Christmas decorations which are sentimental and I would be upset if they got broken.

Bournetilly · 23/12/2023 07:49

I like the idea of putting the pieces inside a clear bauble. Also I would be upset too, obviously there are worse things happening but doesn’t mean this doesn’t matter. It’s about the memories and it’s sentimental.

StrongTea · 23/12/2023 07:54

Look on eBay, you may be lucky

hanschristmassolo · 23/12/2023 07:58

I'd be upset too OP even if it would be irrationally so

I have used a ceramic repair chap I found trawling the internet for an ornament that got broken a few years ago - it wasn't expensive and the repair was good all things considered

LuckiestMumonthePlanet · 23/12/2023 08:13

DH supports trying a repair cafe. He volunteers with one. Repairing baubles isn’t his bag but he thinks there are people there who know the right glues to use and would be willing to attempt a repair. You might have to go a long way to find one who can do it before Xmas mind you, as many open once a month.

frequentlyfrazzled · 23/12/2023 08:16

I like the idea of the Japanese gold repair, the technique is called Kintsugi - the results are really beautiful - you could buy your daughter one of the kits, think you can get them from craft shops, and box it up with the broken bauble as a Christmas gift - then you could all join in to make it a family christmas project to put it back together. The new version also becomes her 16th Christmas Bauble. Whatever you decide good luck with finding a solution.

palmtreesoliveleaves · 23/12/2023 08:24

I am extremely sentimental and have lots of Christmas baubles that each mean something. I would be so upset if any of those got broken.

My MIL died very recently and I bought an expensive bauble in her memory but hadn't changed my address on the website I ordered it from so it went to my old address and I never got it 😥

Some of the replies the OP got are awful and say a lot more about the posters than anything else. It's not a race to the bottom. Having been through my fair share of trauma over the years I feel only kindness and warmth towards those who have "only" this type of thing to worry about. Long may that continue for them ❤️

PamelaParis · 23/12/2023 08:32

Use it as a life lesson in resilience. Baubles break, things go wrong, Christmas won't always be the same.
I would actually find it quite sad to get a replacement, that would have been some other child's first Christmas bauble, not your daughter's.

StBrides · 23/12/2023 08:59

frequentlyfrazzled · 23/12/2023 08:16

I like the idea of the Japanese gold repair, the technique is called Kintsugi - the results are really beautiful - you could buy your daughter one of the kits, think you can get them from craft shops, and box it up with the broken bauble as a Christmas gift - then you could all join in to make it a family christmas project to put it back together. The new version also becomes her 16th Christmas Bauble. Whatever you decide good luck with finding a solution.

This is perfect. Then a wonderful new memory will come from the breakage.

To the three of you who have posted about your recent losses, my heart goes out to you

Original poster
Baubletears · 23/12/2023 09:00

frequentlyfrazzled · 23/12/2023 08:16

I like the idea of the Japanese gold repair, the technique is called Kintsugi - the results are really beautiful - you could buy your daughter one of the kits, think you can get them from craft shops, and box it up with the broken bauble as a Christmas gift - then you could all join in to make it a family christmas project to put it back together. The new version also becomes her 16th Christmas Bauble. Whatever you decide good luck with finding a solution.

This is a beautiful idea, thank you 😊

OP posts:
AyrshireTryer · 23/12/2023 09:06

As Tiny Tim or was it Noddy Holder said, "Merry Christmas, everyone."

Ella31 · 23/12/2023 09:12

I like the putting the pieces in a clear bauble idea and maybe get the outside of the bauble engraved with the first date and her age now. Kind of a past and present upcycle.

TheNoodlesIncident · 23/12/2023 09:15

BetsyBobbins · 23/12/2023 02:38

I'm very sorry @Ella31 how you must be suffering so much is unimaginable. For context as well I lost both my parents a week apart from each other but I do know that my pain is not comparable to yours. But silly self centred stuff like this does make me uncomfortable

Then maybe step away from the internet for a spell until you feel less vicious towards people who haven't done you any harm.

Often stuff you read does rankle but you have the option to click away and seethe on your own. I recommend you do that rather than attacking someone with hard scornful words, when you don't actually know what other traumas they may have suffered but aren't mentioning because it's not relevant.

OP if you post a search on eBay for your bauble you'll hopefully get an alert if someone lists it. I would try that alongside a repair as mentioned above.

mumsytoon · 23/12/2023 09:23

Much love to you @Ella31 ❤️ I just can't imagine your pain. Please take each day as it comes, I'm so sorry.

Op, I'm sentimental too and it's wonderful that your dd is- means she appreciates memories and moments. If you can't come right with any suggestions how about trying your best to glue it back and then place it inside another bauble? The clear ones which is now popular for making your own baubles? And the you she can label it/decorate it ? It would make it even more special I think.

FieldInWhichFucksAreGrownIsBarren · 23/12/2023 09:25

Christ, who would have thought an innocent post asking for advice on a broken bauble could attract such vitriol 😱 Some of us need to step away from our keyboard...
OP, my daughter would be absolutely heartbroken if her bauble came to harm so I get it-love the idea of putting some of it inside a new bauble as this retains the sentiment ❤️

Balloonhearts · 23/12/2023 10:14

@BetsyBobbins Please remember that you are talking about the feelings of a child. Your concept of disaster is directly proportional to your life experiences. Personally I'm glad that this girl has suffered so little actual trauma in her life that she is devastated over a bauble.

Perhaps reframe this post in your mind a little and remind yourself that as a child, you were probably in bits over dropping an ice cream at some point.

I'm sorry about your parents. I can imagine that when I lose mine I will likely be similarly grief stricken and furious with the world for daring to carry on and care about insignificant things when you hurt so much. It's not your fault. But try to keep your own perspective and be glad that children care about silly little things. They grow up too fast as it is.