Holding onto cherished keepsakes from childhood is something a majority of people do.
It can be comforting, no matter one’s age, to break out old toys, games, and especially stuffed animals.
A memory of a special time in life can make certain types of pain a little easier to bear.
But some parents see this more as a weakness and expect adult children to leave behind what they perceive as “childish things.”
Redditor GlumBumT_T- wanted to discuss her experience and get some feedback, so naturally, she came to the “Am I The A**hole” (AITA) subreddit.
She asked:
“AITA for hiding a stuffed animal?”
The Original Poster (OP) explained:
“I (15 F[emale]) will start out by saying I have very strict parents.”
“I am expected to keep a certain G[rade] P[oint] A[verage.
“My parents have specific expectations for how I look, etc, etc.”
“One of their rules is that they hate things they deem ‘childish,’ which involves owning toys past the age of like 10.”
“Well, I’ve admittedly ignored this rule and still keep my favorite stuffed animal.”
“I lost basically every other toy I owned, but I hid this one, and they didn’t even know I still had it.”
“My younger brother (8 M[ale]) ended up finding it while looking for money in my room and decided to blackmail me and said if I gave him money, he wouldn’t tell.”
“I did, and he ended up telling them anyway.”
“Long story short, I got grounded and they took it.”
“They made me watch them trash it, and they dumped gross stuff over it to stop me from being tempted to get it.”
“I asked if I could at least get the money my brother took from me back, and they said no, and I don’t deserve it.”
“I ended up digging through the trash anyway to get it back, and my friend M is trying to wash it for me while I find a new hiding spot.”
“Anyway, I feel bad for breaking a rule, but like I feel like it’s a dumb rule anyway.”
“My other brother (12 M) is on my side because our younger brother has done the same stuff to him, but for different reasons, and he thinks the rule is stupid.”
“I still feel bad for making my parents mad, though.”
The OP was left to wonder:
“Am I the a**hole?”
Redditors shared their thoughts on this matter and weighed in on some options to the question, AITA:
- NTA – Not The A**hole
- YTA – You’re The A**hole
- NAH – No A**holes Here
- ESH – Everyone Sucks Here
Many Redditors declared that OP was NOT the A**hole.
“NTA. Your parents and little brother, on the other hand… just wow.” ~ QuinnavereVonQuille
“My brother had a teddy bear he named Ga.”
“Ga was his favorite toy, and he wouldn’t leave the house without it.”
“After many years, Ga started living in the toy chest, and my brother didn’t play with it anymore.”
“When he was your age, and I was 12, Mom donated a bunch of old toys to the church nursery.”
“It was all stuff for preschool-age kids, that neither of us had touched forever.”
“I often sat with the babies and young children (with an adult and another teen) during church services.”
“One morning, my brother came to the nursery to get me.”
“He was 16 or 17 at the time.”
“We still had a couple of babies waiting for parents, so my brother poked around for a few minutes.”
“I don’t know if he recognized quite a few of the toys or not, but he stopped dead at a (toy) baby crib filled with dolls and stuffed animals.”
“‘That’s Ga!'”
“By this time, Mom had come in to see what was taking us so long.”
“She told him she’d donated a bunch of our toys.”
“My brother said that they could have everything else, but they couldn’t have Ga.”
“He took Ga home and put it away in the closet.”
“My brother passed from an accident when he was 34.”
“Ga was buried at the foot of the coffin with him.”
“Even in eternity, it’s okay to have your teddy bear.” ~ Bouche_Audi_Shyla
“I lost a lot of my toys when I was 14 and my parents divorced.”
“3 decades later, I still yearn for some of them at times.”
“The polar bear I received when my baby brother was born (I was 3).”
“The sunshine care bear my grandmother got me when I was 7.”
“At various times since my 14th, I’ve received or bought new toys and teddies.”
“To me, the fact that your parents destroyed and defiled your stuff is abusive, and the fact that they let your little brother get away with blackmail is worse.”
“I would never recommend an escalation if you’re not sure that you’re safe with them, but I vividly encourage you not to feel bad over breaking their cruel and pointless rule.”
“An internet hug from a stranger, if you want it.” ~ Stormtomcat
“Your parents are abusive monsters.”
“Get your driver’s license as soon as possible and get a job.”
“Do you have a trusted adult who would save your money for you?”
“I worry that a bank account that your ‘parents’ could access would lead to them stealing money from you.”
“You need to get a job, save up as much money as possible, and start working hard in school for scholarships.”
“You’re NTA.”
“This is abuse.”
“My mother did the same s**t to me.” ~ Murderous_Intention7
“My father burned my stuffed animals as punishment and made me watch.”
“I am currently typing this from a bed filled with stuffed animals.”
“Not everything childish is bad, and stupid rules don’t have to be respected.”
“There’s nothing wrong with liking something cute and soft.”
“Also, being a minor does not preclude you from owning property.”
“They took your property and damaged it; you are fully right to retrieve it. NTA.” ~ dovahkiitten16
“This is absolutely emotional abuse, and they are playing you and your siblings against each other for fun.”
“This isn’t your little brother’s fault either.”
“They are letting him get pleasure and joy and praise for doing this to you and your brother.”
“He doesn’t know any better.”
“I mean, he knows exactly what he’s doing, but he’s praised for doing it.”
“If this is the only joy he’s getting from your parents, it’s really a sh*tty reason to keep doing it, but that’s why he’s doing it.”
“It would probably be best to hide that stuffed animal with your friend who is cleaning it, or you are eventually going to lose it for good, and you will resent your parents forever.”
“Not that you don’t already do.”
“You shouldn’t have to hide things that mean the world to you.”
“You are in a terrible situation, and when you turn 18, you should ask your friends’ parents if you can move in with them until you can get on your feet.”
“And as soon as you can, help your brothers get out as well.”
“Your parents are the a**holes, and I wish you luck, OP!” ~ Entire_Armadillo5161
“My father burned my stuffed animals as punishment and made me watch.”
“I am currently typing this from a bed filled with stuffed animals.’
“Not everything childish is bad, and stupid rules don’t have to be respected.”
“There’s nothing wrong with liking something cute and soft.”
“Also, being a minor does not preclude you from owning property.”
“They took your property and damaged it; you are fully right to retrieve it. NTA.” ~ dovahkiitten16
“NTA, you are being abused.”
“Please keep it at that friend’s house where your younger brother cannot find it.”
“His blackmailing his older sibling and getting off scot-free for stealing from you is ridiculous.”
“The rule is completely silly.”
“Never trust an adult who is vehemently against other people owning plushies.”
“Also, I’m in my 20s and have a ridiculous amount of stuffed animals.”
“I bought my mid-50s dad a huge Eevee squishmallow for his birthday, and he almost jumped for joy.”
“I hope you can move out of there as soon as possible and that you can have all the stuffed animals you’ll ever want.” ~ imwhateverimis
“I don’t have any that are not in storage, but my gf has several, sleeps with 1 sometimes.”
“A couple that I have bought for her are actually worth a decent amount of money.”
“My second favorite stuffed animal from when I was a child is in the closet, in plain view.”
“Have about 200 Beanie Babies in storage.”
“We are 33/34.”
“Went to college.”
“Have jobs.”
“Own our vehicles, halfway own our house.”
“I watch documentaries for fun and was way too excited when we bought our new vacuum cleaner.”
“She reads and writes for fun.”
“NTA. Your parents may be sociopaths.”
“Recover your stuffed animal if it isn’t too late.”
“I’m sure it can be cleaned and/or repaired.”
“Try to grow up to be a decent human in spite of your current situation.”
“Therapy really can help; you may need it in a few years, it is truly okay if you do.” ~ bradb1991
“NTA. Your parents are so strict, yet they allow your 8-year-old brother to search your room and steal money??!! Ridiculous.”
“Keep studying hard so you can get out of this situation as soon as possible.” ~ onitshaanambra
“NTA. Oh, hon, you’re not wrong to keep a favorite stuffed animal!”
“I keep mine, and I’m 26.”
“My dad still has his at 59.”
“However, for your stuffie’s own safety, keep them with your friend or otherwise out of the house until you can move out.”
“If your parents know you’re willing to dig through trash for them, they’ll do something more permanent next time.” ~ Inbredipus
“NTA. Your parents and brother are not good people at all.”
“Does your brother have to follow rules?”
“The fact that he’s going through your room to look for money says it all.”
“I’m 38 and my wife is 36.”
“We have a collection of stuffed penguins.”
“We’ve both got stuffed animals from our childhood.” ~ Fit-Procedure-2597
“NTA. Your parents are abusive and psychotic.”
“I hope you continue to remain safe for the next three years and hope you find a safe, loving place to land.” ~ No1CouldHavePredictd
Reddit feels your pain, OP.
What your parents did is heartbreaking.
And your brother is a menace.
It’s terrible that you have to go through this.
Good luck with the new hiding spot.