BellaOnline Forums Relationships Married No Kids Did you play with baby dolls as a kid?

I'm 35, been married for 7 years, and have known I didn't want kids since my early teens. Before then it was just a game to think up names, etc.

I had some baby dolls growing up but they weren't any more important than my stuffed animals, tinkertoys, Fisher price people and village, blocks, Hot Wheels, or Lincoln Logs. I did love my Baby Beans - remember her? She had a cord you could pull and she'd say things like, "I love you!" and "Let's play!" <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I also had a doll who was styled more after a small child that I named Agatha. She had the most beautiful red hair and a lovely patchwork dress. I left her at my cousin's once and she got broken. I cried for days! heh

I'm a bit of a paradox I suppose. I'm extremely protective and tend to "mother" my friends, pets, and hubby, but I have no maternal desires or instinct whatsoever. Probably because I don't like being around babies or kids.

That does not seem so odd to me. I don't believe that all women are born wanting to have babies or be mothers, but they are nurturing. I am not very good with babies but excellent with children 3 and older. I suspect because I am a talker and doer. Give me a kid that I can read to and drag to museums, etc. and I am happy <img src="/images/graemlins/heart.gif" alt="" /> It's interesting I did babysit friends baby for a while and did very well. As a teen he once asked me if I used to read to him? MMMmmm, how did he know I did that? He was less than a year old. I asked him why he thought that and he was not sure why, he just thought I did <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I'm 35. Married. No kids. We have a dog, cat and some fish.

Growing up I had decided I'd be single. Then I met my husband and got married. I never pictured myself as a parent. At this moment parenthood doesn't figure into my life. But there are times I think yeah, I want to be a mom. The option is still open. I've learned not to say 'never'.

As for dolls. Yeah, I played with B****** and baby dolls. I have some of my B****** in the basement and I have "Kiss Me Baby" packed away somewhere too. I had a lot of dog stuffies when I was a kid. I was very protective of all my toys probably because I'd come home from school and find out my mother had given one of my favourite toys away. I digress...

I played with boys and dirt and tar as well.

Yes, I did play with dolls, baby or Barbie, when I was a kid. But I also played with toy cars and other "boy toys". Up until a certain age I was certain I wanted children but never really questioned it whether this was right for me. During other changes in my life I did get around to question whether I really wanted children or not. It turned out I didn't.
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I loved playing with dolls when I was younger...baby dolls and Barbie. I don't think it's a contradiction to have loved playing with dolls & to not want kids. The thing that made playing with dolls fun is that it just playing, and not a full-time gig. As an adult, I love occassionally babysitting my neices and nephews, but I'm always happy to return that responsibility back to their parents at the end of the day!

I played with dolls but just mainly because they were given to me, I am an artist so I had more fun with sidewalk chalk, riding my bike or pretending to teach school to my stuffed animals. Never was into the diaper and baby carriage thing. My best friend was. I see some little girls now acting like "little mom's" with their baby dolls and frankly it's creepy.

I have never had the desire to be a mommy but as a kid I loved playing barbies with my friends. I also loved playing with the boys too but so did all my other female friends.

When I was younger, I was a complete tom boy. I hated dolls. My mother has a picture of me holding a cabage patch kid that my grandma got me for christmas by its hair because I didnt want it. I used to mutilate my little sisters barbie dolls, but would occasionally play with them (Not in a mothering way at ALL tho <img src="/images/graemlins/devil.gif" alt="" />). The only type of house that I would play involved me being some sort of animal, not a human. All my toys were stuffed animals, cars and trucks, books, colored pencils, science kits, video games......
I've always been more involved with intellectual things, not mothering things.
As I got older, most all my friends were boys because girls rarely ever liked to do the same things I did.
I'm really into video/computer games, and have been told I was "the perfect woman" because of that LOL.
I do "baby" my animals, and my husband, I cannot deny that I'm a nurturer. I just dont want to nurture a kid. I cannot stand babies, and kids irritate me (although I do like some children)
Also, I'm quite an attractive woman, and not "butch" in any way, like another poster pointed out about herself.

I wish I knew early on that I didn't want kids. It took It took me some serious soul searching to realize what I was feeling was the desire to NOT have them.
Above to be read as a quote.

I thought it was just what people do. But, somehow, I knew it was not for me. I knew people with kids did not always have Kodak moments. I also listened to Moos with kyds and they were usually tired and stressed out. So then they have another! Misery loves company, I guess!

How funny! I never played with dolls as a child either. My mother told me this, (who is fabulous, by the way, since she accepts my decision AND understands it!!) I had friends who would bring their baby dolls over, which I would eye with uncertainty, before declaring, "Let's go outside!"