AIBU- Stuffed Toy in the office.

[2021x]

I work in a newly formed team in an office. We have our team admin who I am going to guess is at least 26-28 y.o. woman.

We did one of those "professional" corporate team-building tests, and she seemed really confronted by some of the feedback she got. Since then, she has started acting more childlike and dependent and constantly seeking feedback on things she clearly can handle herself.

Today, however, she started walking around the office with a stuffed toy. She brought the toy-a crocheted horse- into the meetings and had it on her lap, with the head poking onto the table while she was typing, and was hugging it to her body when walking back from meeting rooms like a child and talking to other team members.

She is getting married this year and has said she just wants to elope, as the cost and managing all the preparations are stressful, and she is dreading it because she will be the centre of attention. She is clearly very sensitive and going through a very tough time (none of her family lives here), but AIBU that this is a step too far, or am I just getting a bit too old/grumpy and should mind my own business as she isn't harming anyone?

They probably think it is too but too reluctant to raise the issue. We all know the type.

Maybe she identifies as having dementia? I mean that’s the level of absurd we’ve reached isn’t it.

It sounds like she is ND.
Why are you still intent on mocking her?

It’s not the horse lady that’s being mocked

Because what she’s doing is ridiculous.

Or... perhaps they actually are privvy to her medical history and conditions so make reasonable adjustments and allowances for her. I suppose we'll never know.

Horse is a crutch. Transitional object.
It helps her stay at work.
Who are you to say otherwise?

She’s not a girl, she’s a fully grown adult woman. The use of the noun ‘girl’ is infantilising her.

Yes... HR and OH might be on the case anyway.

Who are you to pronounce a random on the Internet nd? She could be an annoying attention seeker.

Literally said she needs to be seen by OH in my first post!

Do you draw the line anywhere at all? What if a man wanted to bring a blow up doll to work because it brought him “comfort” ?

Well, we don't know either way.
I like to err on the side of caution, and not be cunt.

Are you sure?

I think it’s unnecessary to being a large stuffed horse into work. A small one in the pocket that is discreet, fine.

A large one that you have to hold everywhere you go and speaking in a little baby voice is not professional behaviour. It’s ok to expect professional behaviour in a professional setting. It’s not unkind to expect that.

I know somebody who would actually do this. He already wears fishnet tights and heels and stares at the womens’ bottoms/breasts.

Look up transitional object.
I wont be supplying the time or crayons for you.

So you accept a blow up doll as a transitional object?

Avoiding answering! Says it all.

They always do. Then it’s ’this isn’t in good faith and I don’t HAVE to tell you anything, so I’m out’

Coming in 5…4…3…

Yes, because I have a lot of ND people in my life.. some that use transitional objects.
this thread is just a shit show of people either mocking them or thinking they are attention seeking etc.
It is horrible, and really upsettting.

Along with calling posters cunts.

Your senses are correct, she’s clearly struggling. But why be grumpy and not be supportive about it?

I looked it up and it said this:

almost anything can become a transitional object, provided it fulfills a specific psychological purpose.

so, yeah the man could bring his blow up doll and claim it is his transitional object. Anyone could claim anything is. Better not object- it’s not kind.

THis thread was not about a man with a blow up doll though.

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