Lately I've noticed a trend among many of my friends: they are all starting to make their own families. Engagement photos are turning into maternity photos are turning into baby photos and before I even knew it, the baby photos are now toddler photos and first day of school photos and junior high graduation photos.
Truth be told, I don't know much about this whole kid-raising process, outside of my own experience being a kid myself once upon a time and what people share with me. Which is to say: It's pretty much a mystery, this terrifying, intriguing, amazing, challenging, life-changing, terrifying (I said it twice) thing I'm on the outside of. I know not having kids might mean I'm missing out on quite a bit. I'm missing out on watching someone come alive, grow up, discover, learn, explore. I'm missing out on ever witnessing a first step, a first word. Sometimes it feels like I'm floating on the outside of a black hole knowing the whole universe is right inside but also knowing there's some truth inside myself that keeps me from it all and that remaining true to oneself is critical to really being alive.
But I do remember what it was like to be a kid, the process of growing up and becoming who I am.
When I was little, I grew up on a farm. There were not a lot of people around and Nintendo hadn't come out yet. There weren't any computers or the Internet yet. These were the days of basic 5-channel box TVs, illustrated children's books and Candy Land. We didn't have the amazing CGI or 10 million windows into the world to help our imaginations grow. What I had was perhaps better: I had stuffed animals. They were my friends. They were my gateway into books, into movies, into storytelling, into writing, into making the world come alive. They taught me about perspective, empathy and kindness, and through them I was able to tell my stories and my own story.
It's something I miss, really, this childhood ability to voice my world and my story to something both inanimate and intimate, without repurcussion, without judgement, without consequence. But it's something we all must outgrow.
Fortunately, thanks to my friends, I now have all the excuses I could ever need to bring out my sewing machine for some weekend crafting and stuffed animal-making. Because even if I'm embarrassed to have a room full of stuffed animals for myself, I know a bunch of people who aren't. In fact, I bet they'd like a whole jungle.
3. This unicorn by MaisieMoonNZ, should add some mythical whimsy to the jungle.
4. No stuffed animal collection can be complete without a couple dragons, like this one from LynneDhenson .
5. There's no better stuffed friend than a giraffe who can also pass as a brontosauraus (like this one from OlesyaGergelTeddy).
6. These adorable elephants by OlesyaGergelTeddy looks like they've got some good stories to share.
7. Every kid should have a Falcor, handmade with the help of this pattern from GameGuardians.
8. This whale by CraftyKooka should have kids dreaming of the ocean.
9. This fox by AngelLeaDesigns will have everyone who touches it believing in the Littlest Prince.
10. This rabbit from annapavlovna looks like it needs an adventure.
