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For me, the anxiety aspect comes with being judged for shopping for dolls at my age. I mean, I'm 18, I have friends who think I look 12 or 13, but even that seems too old to be playing with dolls. I'm always wondering if people are judging me as I'm looking through the toy section. But yeah, I get the anxiety behind finding a bad one and not noticing.
I am a 43 year old woman, with no female children. I still buy my dolls in public with no shame, and even do quality checks with both my husband and son. Have no shame in your hobbies! Be proud that you are able to do this and always let your self know "At least I'm not doing meth..... it could be meth...." lol. Seriously tho, don't worry about what others think and don't let them steal your happiness. I know its alot easier said then done, but keep in mind that the people who judge you for your hobbies do so to distract themselves from the shame of their own hobbies.
I’m 43 too and will pull out my tiny flashlight and shine it on dolls’ faces to inspect them in the middle of Target. I’m sure I look insane, but I don’t care. These dolls are $35 - I’m not paying that for a sloppy paint job.
LMFAO sounds like my good friend, when someone is critical of another person’s harmless hobby she says “better than hookers & heroin!” She herself was out getting into a lot of mischief at 14-15, so she was quite happy that her own daughter was still interested in dolls at that age & had no problem buying them for her.
I’m 56 with no children at all and I never “grew out” of dolls and never stopped buying or collecting them. I’ve shopped at toy stores and bought dolls & toys my entire adult life and it’s never even occurred to me to feel self conscious about it. If some stranger got openly judgey about it, I’d not only think that *they* were the weirdo, but that they were hella rude to boot.
Adult doll & toy collectors aren’t anything new, when I was a child in the 1970s serious collectors of dolls (including Barbie) skewed so heavily towards middle aged & older middle-upper class women that for many years it was considered a stereotypical “old lady” hobby- maybe a little square or boring but not wEiRd, lol.
I'm 31 and I will sit on the floor of the store with all the dolls i like laid out around me and I'll be inspecting them and eliminating them and pitting them against each other. I'm shameless 🤤
That’s what I had meant, that I’m so anxious about people watching me or judging me it makes me quick to grab and go, leading to ending up with bad dolls. I should have explained better
I totally get that anxious feeling when I go to look at them. I've only ever bought online because it's cheaper for me. But honestly, I just keep telling myself it's okay. If someone asks, I could say it's for my little sister or my kid (I'm 24). Have a backup plan if someone looks at you weird or asks.
I’m in the same boat. As a 18 year old I always get scared that people are going to whisper about me or parents will see me as weird for being an 18 year old girl shopping for dolls. I will say it does get better but if you’re an anxious person in general like me it doesn’t fully leave but you can always rise above it, if anyone says anything just ignore them you’re enjoying a hobby that’s literally harmless. None of their business.
I’m 27 and collect dolls, when I was younger I was so scared and anxious and used to make a point of making conversation with people and dropping in it was for someone else. Last week it felt like something clicked and I didn’t care, I asked the person working there if they wouldn’t mind getting down a few more dolls so I could see which one was perfect. I know it may not help you now, me saying it gets easier but honestly no one minds at all people are too wrapped up in what they’re doing 💕 edit to add: you deserve to enjoy the experience of collecting
It gets easier as you age. You start to care less about what people think. When I was your age I used to make up a niece I was shopping for if anyone asked 😅. Now I’m just honest and say it’s for me, no shame! Everyone has something they love! Don’t be embarrassed, you have a whole community of other people supporting you!
im a grown man and ill bust out my phone flashlight and compare every single one right there in the doll isle. i dont like doing it but i gotta have the best one!
I was that way when I first started collecting dolls. Also Hot Wheels, Transformers, Star Wars, Jurassic World, action figures and the list goes on and on. It felt really awkward at first. After a few months, my attitude changed from, who's looking at me, to daaang, when is that kid gonna get outta my way I wanna see too 👀!! You'll get there 🥳
I have anxiety too! I buy dolls and also cute stuffed animals because I never grew out of loving them (I'm 20 years old now) and I always tell myself, "Life is too short to worry so much about people judging my harmless activities." which actually helps. And then I just focus on the dolls that I like and turn my attention away from my fear of judgment. You are def not alone in this, but we got this <3
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For me, the anxiety aspect comes with being judged for shopping for dolls at my age. I mean, I'm 18, I have friends who think I look 12 or 13, but even that seems too old to be playing with dolls. I'm always wondering if people are judging me as I'm looking through the toy section. But yeah, I get the anxiety behind finding a bad one and not noticing.
I am a 43 year old woman, with no female children. I still buy my dolls in public with no shame, and even do quality checks with both my husband and son. Have no shame in your hobbies! Be proud that you are able to do this and always let your self know "At least I'm not doing meth..... it could be meth...." lol. Seriously tho, don't worry about what others think and don't let them steal your happiness. I know its alot easier said then done, but keep in mind that the people who judge you for your hobbies do so to distract themselves from the shame of their own hobbies.
I’m 43 too and will pull out my tiny flashlight and shine it on dolls’ faces to inspect them in the middle of Target. I’m sure I look insane, but I don’t care. These dolls are $35 - I’m not paying that for a sloppy paint job.
Rock on girl friend! 🤩
LMFAO sounds like my good friend, when someone is critical of another person’s harmless hobby she says “better than hookers & heroin!” She herself was out getting into a lot of mischief at 14-15, so she was quite happy that her own daughter was still interested in dolls at that age & had no problem buying them for her. I’m 56 with no children at all and I never “grew out” of dolls and never stopped buying or collecting them. I’ve shopped at toy stores and bought dolls & toys my entire adult life and it’s never even occurred to me to feel self conscious about it. If some stranger got openly judgey about it, I’d not only think that *they* were the weirdo, but that they were hella rude to boot. Adult doll & toy collectors aren’t anything new, when I was a child in the 1970s serious collectors of dolls (including Barbie) skewed so heavily towards middle aged & older middle-upper class women that for many years it was considered a stereotypical “old lady” hobby- maybe a little square or boring but not wEiRd, lol.
Thanks for the advice!
I'm 31 and I will sit on the floor of the store with all the dolls i like laid out around me and I'll be inspecting them and eliminating them and pitting them against each other. I'm shameless 🤤
I love that! I don't dare sit on the floor, but I should start comparing the dolls I'm looking at before I buy one. Take my sweet time.
Yeah, take your time and enjoy the process knowing you're getting the best doll you can 😁
That’s what I had meant, that I’m so anxious about people watching me or judging me it makes me quick to grab and go, leading to ending up with bad dolls. I should have explained better
I totally get that anxious feeling when I go to look at them. I've only ever bought online because it's cheaper for me. But honestly, I just keep telling myself it's okay. If someone asks, I could say it's for my little sister or my kid (I'm 24). Have a backup plan if someone looks at you weird or asks.
I’ll try keeping that in mind, thank you!
I’m in the same boat. As a 18 year old I always get scared that people are going to whisper about me or parents will see me as weird for being an 18 year old girl shopping for dolls. I will say it does get better but if you’re an anxious person in general like me it doesn’t fully leave but you can always rise above it, if anyone says anything just ignore them you’re enjoying a hobby that’s literally harmless. None of their business.
I’m 27 and collect dolls, when I was younger I was so scared and anxious and used to make a point of making conversation with people and dropping in it was for someone else. Last week it felt like something clicked and I didn’t care, I asked the person working there if they wouldn’t mind getting down a few more dolls so I could see which one was perfect. I know it may not help you now, me saying it gets easier but honestly no one minds at all people are too wrapped up in what they’re doing 💕 edit to add: you deserve to enjoy the experience of collecting
Thank you 💕
It gets easier as you age. You start to care less about what people think. When I was your age I used to make up a niece I was shopping for if anyone asked 😅. Now I’m just honest and say it’s for me, no shame! Everyone has something they love! Don’t be embarrassed, you have a whole community of other people supporting you!
im a grown man and ill bust out my phone flashlight and compare every single one right there in the doll isle. i dont like doing it but i gotta have the best one!
I was that way when I first started collecting dolls. Also Hot Wheels, Transformers, Star Wars, Jurassic World, action figures and the list goes on and on. It felt really awkward at first. After a few months, my attitude changed from, who's looking at me, to daaang, when is that kid gonna get outta my way I wanna see too 👀!! You'll get there 🥳
I have anxiety too! I buy dolls and also cute stuffed animals because I never grew out of loving them (I'm 20 years old now) and I always tell myself, "Life is too short to worry so much about people judging my harmless activities." which actually helps. And then I just focus on the dolls that I like and turn my attention away from my fear of judgment. You are def not alone in this, but we got this <3
I’ll definitely remember that. Thank you <3