To refuse to play along with imaginary friend

[ImConfusedHelp]

My DC (8) has decided they have an imaginary friend. I am sick to death of hearing “Marcus is hungry” (Marcus is the imaginary friend) or “Marcus wants to go to the park” or whatever other nonsense they come up with. I honestly don’t know what to do I’m sick of hearing about ‘Marcus’ and think 8 is far too old to have an imaginary friend. I’ve tried to explain to DC we all know Marcus isn’t real but they just start crying every time. AIBU to refuse to play along or even discuss ‘Marcus’ anymore?

🙄

You seem so harsh. While yes, it may be annoying, this is imaginary play and great for child development - perhaps encourage rather than crush your son...

It's not uncommon for children to have an imaginary friend. I had an imaginary friend, my Mum took me to see the Doctor because she was concerned it wasn't 'normal'. She was told that it's something some children have, it's not uncommon and I would grow out of it. My imaginary friend was called Burr and his friend was Gong (I have no idea where these names came from!! 😂). My son, who is now 13, also had an imaginary friend, when younger and he grew out of it too. As annoying as it may be, try not to get cross with her, go along with it, and don't tell her the 'friend' isn't real, she knows that, all you'll achieve is an upset child. I can assure you she will grow out of it, it's a faze and as quickly as it started, it will go.

I had an imaginary pony I used to ride everywhere. My mum played along but my oldest brother hated it. Used to tell me it wasn't real all the time and it used to upset me, like my whole fantasy burst every time. I was about the same age. It's just play, I'm perfectly healthy minded as an adult with my own children now who love to play pretend the same ways. Get involved. She's only little for so long

and I had unicorns who lived in the clouds - they would come down after dark and I would fly away on them....

"Klaus the man with no skin"

Oh my god you are in a horror movie.
Klaus is real. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

He had a polka dot umbrella for the sun I believe. My mam wrote down all the Klaus stories somewhere, I'll have to dig them out one day. Tim Burton would probably love them.

That's terrifying!

@MonsteraMama Never mind Marcus, please tell us more about Klaus! Why did he have no skin?

They are 8 … a child.
Why are you wanting to make them cry over this.
Yes you are being utterly unreasonable and imo cruel.
Imaginary friends are actually a sign of intelligence.

DD was friends with the queen fairy. Apparently when people say they don't believe in fairies, the queen is fairly safe from dying because all the rest will die first. When she told me about how fairies reproduce, I asked whether, if I met someone else who was friends with a fairy and asked them, they would tell me the same thing? She told me they might not, because the fairy might be a different species...

You should watch ‘Drop Dead Fred’ and be very glad Marcus isn’t anything like him, in-fact you’ll be relieved that Marcus is so outdoorsy and polite. I always wanted an imaginary friend as a kid, but just couldn’t retain one, just couldn’t keep up the act with myself, I was a sceptical little bastard even at 6!

My daughter had an imaginary friend called Fred. He was a dual national like her and I think his parents we're also separated. He had a suitcase that could turn into a car or a plane. He would travel with us.

I think he helped her process life.

My brother was my imaginary dog

As PP have said, you will look back fondly.

I played along with things as it was just a small thing of there was an issue I would have addressed it, my child is older but there is still make believe running jokes we have

My son had an imaginary employee, named Blenkinsopp. Whenever things went wrong, he would get sacked.

You're the adult here. Play along and use Marcus to guide the conversation in the direction you want. It's really not that hard - see previous posters' suggestions.

@Couchpotato3 I love this!

Yes! Like he was an imaginary friend who turned out to be a ghost who died in a house fire and was evil because that's what it sounds like to me!

We had an imaginary dog for a while.

My eldest Grandson had one from age of four until 8.
He was called " little man".
He's 19 now with Aspergers and we laugh about it.
I was once on a bus with him.. and this woman sat down near us and Grandson started crying and pointing saying " that lady has sat on little man" .. l had to explain and she kindly moved.
When he was 8 he watched the Snowman film... and decided little man had melted like the snowman and was no longer here..
But we did accommodate little man as much as possible.

I actually think it's quite sweet that he has an imaginary friend! None of mine did but I probably would have played along with it. It's just a phase and doesn't last forever and it obviously upsets him when you're dismissive or cross. It sounds like he's using Marcus to voice his own needs and wants? Is he a little anxious or shy?

He’ll grow out of it. Unless, of course, it actually is an invisible, vengeful entity, in which case you probably should just take it to the park, like it wants.

I once bought a bus ticket for an imaginary friend, luckily the bus driver just gave me a blank one and a cheery smile.

I have an imaginary friend and I'm 38. It's nice to have someone to complain to or bounce ideas off.