Toy collecting and maturity

Mini Wolfsbane

Teeny Tiny Baby Pony
Joined
Oct 30, 2016
Messages
59
This is a knee-jerk post and I'll probably look at this tomorrow and regret posting it,
but I would like some reassurance or feedback.

How the heck do you get through life collecting toys and still have people see you
as an adult?

I still live at home, and because of circumstances (we are taking of my disabled mom),
I live with my family. This includes my older brother. He seems to like to use my
love of toys as my sore spot. I say something, he'll throw it back at me with something
about toys. I know he isn't doing it to be mean and I guess he's expecting me to tease him
back or something, but instead I just get annoyed, get offended, or (mostly) feel ashamed.
(I also feel stupid because we're out of our 20s-we have an 11 year age gap-and do this.)
I'm sure if we had a closer age gap like most siblings, our relationship would be easier.
(Or not. All brothers and sisters fight/tease each other.)

I'm just writing this because I don't always feel like an adult and my toys make me feel childish,
even if there just sitting there as collectors items. I mean, jeez, it's not like I play with them!
(Personally, I think that's taking it a little far, but you do you.) So, it's not just occasional
teasing bugging me. It's my life-style choices and circumstances. I don't have my own
house or bills to pay or anything, so I don't feel grown up. Choosing to collect toys and wear anime/superhero/Disney shirts is fun and all, but it's like, the older I get (I'm 32 now)
the longer I wonder how long I'll keep doing this? 40-somethings don't look cute
in a Little Mermaid shirt, they might just look wierd. (I say might because I don't want to
offend anyone.) I guess it's slightly better than all those old ladies who insist on dressing
in short skirts and stuff like they're still in they're 20s, but not by much.

All that said, the funny thing is that I don't buy toys as much as I used to. (Which my brother doesn't seem to get.) The last thing I got was a Funko pop, and before that, it was probably the Sailor Moon Moon stick. (As much as it's a collectible, it still counts as a toy.) Lately I'm buying clothes, food or other stuff for myself.

I used to get so ticked off when I watched that show Made on...VH1 or MTV...and the life coach would have the poor kids get rid of their stuff to make over their rooms and "clean up" their life. Two instances I remember specifically, was one coach making a boy pack up his beanie babies. (He was kissing one goodbye, so you could see he was upset.) another made a girl get rid of her Spiderman poster to haul in some cruddy, lifeless, preppy looking blue and white posterboard thingy. Yes everyone, has to grow up sometime, but it should be when you're ready. No one should make you. (Yeah, most if not all of those shows are fake, but
those seemed pretty real at the time.) I'm glad my family hasn't forced me to give anything up, but they're usally not that supportive of my hobbies either. (And that's fine too.)

Thanks for reading this rant.
 
I have Asperger but that is still not a full excuses as to why I don't grow up and why I collect toys. Its taken many years but finally a lot of people got it when I finally made the comparison of likes. My sister who is 26 likes jewelry and loves the diamond necklace her husband gave her for Christmas one year. I am Asexual so I will nor do I want any kinda of partner but if I did and they bought me said necklace I would be very polite about it but I would not be as happy and cryie as she was. Same year my parent will buy me toys and such for my birthday and Christmas etc. I get like Some Monster High dolls and a few ponies. I FREAK OUT. So when it comes down to it most people I meet learn that its what I like and I don't fall into social norms.
Also I don't have a lot of friends never did and we bullied a lot so my toys or ponies are more then just toys to me. They are my slight little listeners and my little huggers and are there when I need them and No one else will give me the time of day.

Truth be told I will never say I am full Grown up. Life if boring if your fully grown up and give up all the magic of childhood. Just find a good balance but that this just my option
 
Last edited:
I have a plaque in my pony room that says, "Because it makes me happy, next question". I am 34, I have a husband, a career and I own my home and in that home is a whole room dedicated to toys, mostly ponies but there are plenty of other toys in there too. I do not feel the slightest bit bothered by this. I will admit some people think it's a little weird and sometimes I have to laugh when I have the maintenance man go in there for some reason but honestly I don't care one iota what anyone may think about it and I don't have to explain myself to anyone. I'm totally comfortable with my MLP obsession, my family and friends even my coworkers are aware and while it might be a little unusual it's no different then anyone else who collects something. I've never let anyone make me feel ashamed about it, if anything they think it's funny and kinda interesting. I laugh about it too, I mean really when you're clipping coupons in an attempt to save for that Rapunzel you gotta have a good sense of humor. The way I see it is it's not hurting anyone, it is something that brings me joy and frankly I'm confident enough in myself to not be bothered by anyone else's thoughts on the matter. I don't know if I'll always feel this way, I have for 34 years so far and maybe one day they won't bring me the same sort of joy as they always have but until then I keep on doing what makes me happy. Maybe one day I'll grow out of toys but I hope not, I think a future without them wouldn't be as fun. My ponies remind me of a time in my life when things were simpler and having them to look at after a long day of adulting makes me happy. If you feel the same way don't let anyone bug you about it, they're just jealous they aren't cool enough for ponies!
 
@Gingerbread very very true on that Because it make me happy next question" that is just brillent
 
Well, for me I could care less what other people think about my collections. I live a very isolated life due to illness anyway. I feel I should enjoy my life however I choose. If other people have a problem with it then that is their problem. I come by my nature and collecting genetically from both sides of my family. I have only had one guest come into my home with negative things to say about my collections. I figured he was the one with the problem not me. It was very offensive, but he was coming from a really bad place in his life and felt everyone should live pitifully since he had to I guess. I have stuff everywhere and collections everywhere. I don't get to have just one room to devote and boy I wish I did. I would like very much to not see all my clutter every day. With that being said it doesn't look like I will be moving any time soon lol. I do what makes me happy. My life is especially difficult. If people are rude to me about my home they are not invited back. I say nothing to them, but who needs people like that? Life is to short to have to deal with rude people with bad manners. I am older than most of you guys and if I want to wear a t shirt with the little mermaid on it I will. I think this is all about being strong in who you are. I can be a little different that most people my age. I never really got to live a normal life to begin with due to disability. So, I am just different. Just because I am a certain age doesn't mean I have to met the set social behavioral codes for that age. I will be the eccentric old lady that has gray hair, polka dot tights on and tank tops. I don't wear short skirts, but that is only because, I find them comfortable now. I wear crazy socks. I want to be who I am and I am not changing me because someone else feels all people should conform to a certain law and order of social standards based on age and socio economic status or sex even. I have considered picking a few of my favorites and getting rid of a lot of my collections. The thing is I have no strength physically to mess with it. One day I will have to address it I guess.
 
I concur. Because it makes me happy is all you need. Also toy collecting has been around longer than I have and I'm 35 next week. Plus, it could be something else that makes you happy that your brother would like even less. Grandpa collects old dirty car parts, mom collects everything related to sewing, the neighbor has a thing for garden gnomes, my brother loves nothing more than researching and getting the newest and best high tech gadgets, sister collects pigs, dad collects tools, and grandma collects teddy bears. They all make fun of my collection of ponies. (Deep down, I think they might be jealous of all my pony goodness :p) The difference between mature collecting and being childish is knowing your limits. Financially, space wise, and priority wise. I love my ponies, but in an emergency get out of the house now situation, I'm grabbing my daughter first, my dog second, and the safe third. Then I could go for ponies.
 
I love my ponies, but in an emergency get out of the house now situation, I'm grabbing my daughter first, my dog second, and the safe third. Then I could go for ponies.

Haha, I'm glad I'm not the only person who has planned this. My husband and I have an understanding that in the event of fire, he is to grab the dog and get out and I will be in the pony room chucking ponies out the window until I'm dragged out by the fire dept!
 
I think about the whole emergency thing too. In fact I have thought of taking my extra special favorite toy of each collection and sticking it in a box by the window. The only problem is what if a fire starts in there first? I go over and over in my mind how I would save things and what would I save. I would get the dog first too, but I can see myself chunking stuff out of windows. I know I won't be able to save it all. I have too much stuff. Oh my gosh people I have too much stuff.
 
Growing up doesn't mean forcibly growing out of the things we love. Who cares what others think?
 
Haha, I'm glad I'm not the only person who has planned this. My husband and I have an understanding that in the event of fire, he is to grab the dog and get out and I will be in the pony room chucking ponies out the window until I'm dragged out by the fire dept!


::lolpony:
 
Reading about the fire thing make me think when I was a kid and planning on how to save all my toys if there was a fire. Not worried about my mom or dad or sister. More worried how I was going to get the dream castle out the window with out busting it.
FYI are house is like on the ground so if there was a fire you could just open a window duck and step out and we had no indoor pets at the time.
 
Just wanted to say thanks again for all the great replies! :smile:
The topic spurred a lot of good discussion.

If you feel the same way don't let anyone bug you about it, they're just jealous they aren't cool enough for ponies!

LOL, this is true for most people, but I'm certain my annoying brother doesn't feel this way. At all. :rolleyespony: (And if he did, I'd be very concerned. Not that it's not okay for guys to like ponies, it is, but they're not his thing.)
 
Last edited:
I Am 37yrs Old and I Still Like Toys and I Still Buy Them I Love Getting Them My Mother is 61yrs old and She still Like's Toy's and Still Buy Them
We both Love Toys Still But My Little Brother Think's it is Weird That We Still like Toys, But He Don't Tease Us About, I Still Live With My Parents To
Cause My Dad is Disabled and I Help My Mom Take Care of Him Even Though I Do Not Get A long With him I hate Him But I Help My Mom But She don't Like Him Either
But We take Care of Him anyway but we don't Like it.
RH
 
Haha, I'm glad I'm not the only person who has planned this. My husband and I have an understanding that in the event of fire, he is to grab the dog and get out and I will be in the pony room chucking ponies out the window until I'm dragged out by the fire dept!


You: Nooo! I hafta save my 6th Mimic!

Firefighter: Criminy woman! yeh already saved the first five! Whaddya need the sixth one for?
 
This is my view on such circumstances- that blue and white lifeless thing you mentioned.

Why get rid of something you love just to replace it with something you hate just to reach a social standard?

You don't have to.

I feel that way looking at lady's clothes in the grown lady's section of clothing departments- THEY'RE UGLY. UGLY PATTERNS. UGLY FIT.

Why would I spend money on something I felt was ugly?

Simple answer- I don't.

So with your ponies, keep them. Your brother can make fun of them but point out his hobbies and make fun of those.

As for being 32 living with your parents.... Eh you might want to atleast be working on a savings so you have something to fall back on if they die

I'm also 32 and only have one parent left. I could never move back in with her though because she is always behind on bills since dad passed away.

There comes a point when you have to figure out how to be on your own.

Fir fitting ponies in with my lifestyle, I'm gothic for the most part so the feeling I hive myself is goths play with dolls.

Beautiful fun women can always play with dolls and don't let anyone else tell you otherwise.
 
I only have one Mimic :) I don't really do doubles, figure that will save me time when I have to throw the ponies out of the burning house LOL

That's good planning. :p
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tak
Back
Top