Are dolls like family or like toys?

Same thoooooough... I Toy Story them hard. Sometimes it makes me feel embarrassed that my best friends are dolls and book characters, so it's nice to see some other folks on here are weird like me.

 

I look at dolls as art and I love them, however there are more important things to me than my dolls. If I had to rank the things that I love in importance it'd be 1.) Human family 2.) Animal family 3.) My custom PC setup 4.) Dolls. They are fairly high as far as stuff goes, however they are just stuff to me. I treasure each one and I'd be extremely upset if I were to lose them, but nowhere near as upset as I would be if I lost my human or animal family.

 

I'm not sure if 'toys' is the most accurate word I'd pick as they have a bit more aesthetic value, I guess interactive nice arty objects? I do totally understand how they can also be great companions, though. Either way, it feels nice to have them around.

 

for me, dolls are still toys, sometimes I show a new doll to my husband. Now I am waiting for a new doll from a Mexican master, she is a plus size model. I showed the photo to my husband again - he liked her, said that she apparently eats a lot of pasta, like a real Italian-)

 

Neither toy nor family. I shell OCs into my dolls, and those characters are part of me - they're like my dreams, ideals, desires... maybe imaginary friends too. They only seem separate from me because they have physical doll forms, but I've always seen them as externalized "bits" of me, so to speak. So I can't say that love them like I love people or pets, because they're not independent, separate entities. But they're more than mere toys because I've invested so much of my imagination, time, energy (not to mention money) into them. I guess I love and care for my dolls and do things with them, like I love and care for myself -- or maybe how I want to be treated and cared for.

Well. As much as I think my doll characters are a part of myself, I also like to think they have a little bit of life of their own. Just a little. ^^

 

100% TOYS But I do love my pretty toys dearly. And yeah, maybe even chat them up from time to time.
As far as family approval? Total enablers Seeing my home you might be surprised there are no kids living here. I married into a family of gamers.

 

I don't think they're either. The toy version would be a barbie. You'd never let a kid play with BJD. It could be considered an adult toy, but they're more of an artform hobby. BJD are dolls that are made by hand, made to order, and can be very customizable. There is a sliding scale price range, but even ligthly used dolls can be a few 100. The cheap Amazon versions don't count because they're recasts that steal profit from the artist who actually made them. Opinions can vary, but you wouldn't really judge someone for not knowing what recasts are or having one and actually dressing it up. You'd judge them if they were claiming that their recast was an actual BJD and, again opinions vary on the next part, if they were selling the recast. You'd be judging them for trivializing something that's highly valuble, handmade, art, etc.

 

If I had to liken my bjds to anything, it would almost be like they're my pets? I bond with and love them, and they bring me a lot of joy. I spend a lot less on bjds than I have on real pets in the past, and they're a lot less demanding. Less rewarding as well, I must admit, but at this point in my life they're just the right balance for me.

 

My dolls are a hobby but still the way your family is so dismissive is very rude and bad of them , everyone needs to let out the steam and relax and have some fun our way is this the only thing they manage by harassing you for your dolls is to alienate you from them. You and only you are to decide about your collection and if you want to sell or buy.

 

Imo, they're more of an art form then a doll. As such, they deserve as much respect as any other art form. And, I don't care what people say because I don't listen to people who needlessly condescend about diffeent interests.

 

I used to say that dolls were like family but not anymore. I guess I'm growing... I see them now more like expensive toys. Things that don't really matter in the grand scheme of things. Work on your life first, on yourself first. Dolls will always be here anyways.

 

I see my dolls as part of my "found family" so to speak. They keep me happy, I enjoy being around them and now that I am back in the hobby full time I wouldn't sell them unless I had good reason to do so. But also at the same time they are in their own way toys that I can dress up, take photos of and play with if the mood (and free time which is rare these days) strikes.

My family 100% does not support the hobby. And they havent since I started in circa 2006. The price tag is a deterrent, they think the dolls look too human and give off a creepy vibe and overall don't understand how I can get into something such as this. It becomes a bone of contention when it comes up in conversation. But that dosent stop me from enjoying a hobby that has brought me immense joy for so many years.

I am a college student myself. And being that I am a late bloomer with education and didn't start until 2021 (I graduated HS in 2009) I have had to financially support myself through my education and have had to take out student loans as my parents cannot at this time afford for me to go to school and for them to contribute in any way (nor do they want to help me out in any form in my life). College is expensive (as you probably know) and student loans will hit at some point once I have graduated (I am going for my MA next year when I graduate with my undergrad so I have some time). Something I have learned is that I have to separate fun money and financial responsibility money. Hobbies and things have to go on the back burner until bills are paid, food has been bought, gas is in the car etc. I am not saying that the hobby itself is unaffordable being a college student but I have to prioritize and sometimes I can't get the things I want until a later date. I work hard (full time) have an internship, a family with a special needs child, support my youngest brother who lives with me, and go to school full time with a heavy course load as I am a college senior. All things are doable if you create a schedule and stick to it. I'm a straight A student and have a 4.0 at this time.

To the OP: your parent is concerned about you and you should be thankful to have a parent who cares enough about your financial situation to ask you to make choices that seem hard. That is something I wish I had as my parents don't care enough to do so hence why I support my youngest brother who is a teenager and my child has no clue who her grandparents are. If you don't feel the need to sell your dolls, stick with your gut. But also look into part time jobs to help out. I know that sounds rough but it can be done if you set your mind to it. Sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel seems like a small speck of dust and your getting nowhere. But keep trucking through. You will reach it someday and when you do things will be better than you could imagine.

 

I have one friend in my neighborhood who loves dolls too. But she likes those almost life-size type children. Masterpiece, etc. She has a house full of them and honestly, at first that scene kind of creeped me out. Yet I could bond with her over the fact that we both love dolls and most people around us dislike the whole scene of collecting any kind of doll if you aren't 8 years old or younger. I even started collecting some Himstedt and Zwergnase. They are not the companies she chooses but they are large, and she liked them. / My mother hated them and thought it was obscene to pay that much money. I get the sideways stares and stink eye about them from all the people around me. I have to find "my people" who share this love through internet places where we can admire our photographs and talk about the phenomenon together.

They are NOT toys. They are art. I love that they are customizable. I know they are not sentient beings but some of them still can affect me as if they had spirits. I will never have children. I do have a cat. If the house were on fire, I would save the cat first and then as many of them as possible. I know if I could find the money, they are replaceable. But I still have a special attachment to them.

 

I feel like my dolls are not inanimate objects to me, they aren't exactly family, but they feel like little people to me. It feels bad even thinking about selling any of the dolls I currently had, and just listing one of my doll's bodies on the marketplace kinda hurt. They are all some of my most valuable possessions and I am pretty emotionally attached to them. They are pretty important to me as I have spent both time and money working on them, and even though I can get another one it is not the same. Even if I get another one if one gets broken, stolen, or such, it is not the same doll to me.

I feel like I have been lucky that my family doesn't mind my dolls, even though they don't support more important things. My parents, mostly my mom, still think they are a bit of a waste of money, but she wouldn't try to convince me to get rid of them all. She thinks it's my problem if I choose to spend money on them instead of other things.

People can call me crazy or what they want but I care about my dolls and they are pretty important to me.

 

My dolls are somewhere between pets, friends and art objects.
They fuel my creativity and give me a sense of cozy escape from reality.

 

Dolls are absolutely not family in my case. I love my dolls, but they're ultimately just valuables for me. They will never come close to family and will not be prioritized above my loved ones or pets. I don't see them as toys either, but rather as an art canvas and precious display objects. They bring a lot of value to my life, and I would certainly be devastated if I lost them, but I'm not placing that level of importance on them.

 

My family mainly disapproves due to price and how creepy they look. I think it's understandable since everyone has different tastes but it shouldn't limit me if it's not hurting anyone. Personally, I see them as collectible toys, like a posable equivalent to vinyl or resin designer toys. They're art that require skill, time, money, and passion. But art can also be toys. ^__^

 

Neither, I would say they are more like imaginary friends to me. Or book characters.

 

I'm a very logical person with a scientific background. It's nearly impossible for me to have that attachment to dolls given my life experience, so I'm missing both the ups and downs that is associated with it. I totally understand how they can be like family though.

 

My BJD's are pretty much family, along with my Smart Doll. Other types of dolls fall more into the toy range. They are like pets, but to a lesser degree, if there was an emergency of course the actual living breathing pets would take priority.

They are actually included in family stuff sometimes, a few have been on vacations with us, I bring one at a time though. Sometimes one will join us for a movie or binge watching a series, sitting with feet propped up, dolly popcorn, and drink in hand.

When we play board games and it requires an extra person, my little Lara, joins in with the activities, we take turns taking her turn for her. A lot of times she wins. She has her own little table and chair set up on the table we are playing on, cards and stuff go on her table, we even glare and grumble at her when she is winning.

Lara:
20210226_141206 by Rabbid Bunnies, on Flickr

 

My dolls are definitely toys for me. Family responsibilities will quickly bring me back from fantasizing about a doll family. They are art that brings joy for me to look at. A needed distraction from feeding and caring for real people and other worldly woes.

 

Depends a bit on the doll, for me! I have a couple of them who I've never really bonded with at all, but I still hesitate to say they're 'just toys' to me. They feel more like, I don't know, characters waiting for someone else who WILL click with them and bring them to life once I sell them!
Because I guess most of my dolls are something like OCs to me; they've become characters in my head who I think of backstories for and whatnot. I'm a writer, though, so I'm by nature an insane person.

And then there's my little Dollzone Miyou, who's in a class of his own lmfao. He initially got lost in the mail for a bit when I bought him and had him shipped from Singapore to the US, and when I took him out and saw his cute little pouty face, I was like, 'Aw you were scared and cold, huh? Poor bby, you'll sleep over on the bed with me tonight!'
. . . Annnd now guess where he lives permanently? He has his soft little nest over in the corner of my bed, and I regularly just pick him up and cuddle him while I'm watching shows at night. Earlier this evening, I was holding him like that and had to get up to find something, so I was carrying him around with me and talking to him while I looked . . . I regret to inform you all, this is not an uncommon occurrence lmfao. Nor is me kissing his little head before I go to work in the morning. Pfff.
So yeah, he's my little baby. He's the most like family of all my dolls, even though I have a couple of others who are also very 'alive' to me!

I just never grew out of being that person who feels sad when one of my stuffed animals falls out of bed during the night and is cold and alone ahaha. So I feel strong emotions for my dolls, too!

 

I get attached fast to inanimate stuff, so bonding with dolls was extremely easy. I do know they're just dolls but I kind of look at them and see parts of myself no one else can see, they feel like family but they also feel like, well, me. It would be really painful to have to sell them or give them away and buying the same sculpt later wouldn't feel the same, if that makes sense.

 

For me, dolls are a game, a distraction from problems. I really like sewing clothes for my dolls, taking beautiful photos, sharing photos with my friends. This is a hobby that is enjoyable and ruins your bank account)

 

I've managed to get my mom involved in a hobby because she's a seamstress, but sometimes I feel like she's skeptical and not serious...

 

My dolls are neither family or toys.
I never saw my dolls as characters or having personality beyond "pretty doll" (Even now I've had some dolls for 5 something years and still have no personalized name for them ), I tried in the beginning of the hobby to have character bios etc for them but it never felt right. They definitely don't feel like family members. I don't introduce people to them and rarely even point them out unless my visitor notices them.
Not to say I'm not attached to some of my dolls. I don't know if I could ever sell my first doll, life without her seems so foreign.

They are definitely not toys. Aside from regular maintenance, clothing changes and photography sessions I don't really take any of the ladies out of their cabinet.
I treat them more like precious valuables, like an expensive designer vase an aunt has in their cabinet and brings out only for holiday parties. Something expensive and delicate that makes you happy.

Luckily for me dolls are very customizable so I can have pretty things specifically tailored to my tastes and they take some work to get to that point

 

My dolls are somewhere in the intersection between toys, art and tools.

They do have a toy like quality, that can't be denied and I do spend time just playing around with them for sure.
The art aspect is also pretty obvious to anyone knowing anything about how a doll is made.
But to me they also have a very practical function. I use them as a foundation for a huge number of different crafts, many that wouldn't be possible or at least not nearly as easy without the dolls.

Ayone claiming that dolls serve no practical purpose can fight me.

 

My dolls are definitely more than just toys, but I wouldn't call them family. I see them more as outlets for art--models for fleshing out a particular original character, creating fanart of an existing character, and dressing up in a particular fashion/aesthetic. All of my dolls each have their own "personality" that I dress them to and in that way, they feel somewhat alive. So if I had to stick a solid label on them, they'd be my "muses" for sewing, wigmaking, photography, and other artsy hobbies of mine

 

Spoiler: Thoughts on Relatives/Family/Etc

Only person in my life, currently, who knows about me having dolls/BJDs is my fiancé. I believe I showed my mother in the past when I was heavily into Dollfie Dreams but am unsure if I ever showed my father. I never got into how much things cost with my parents though as I didn't want to deal with them saying I could use the money for other things or silently judging me with disapproving looks that I feel they can give off at times. My fiancé is alright with my dolls, as long as I don't put myself (or eventually us) in a bad financial situation over them. He's not much into dolls/BJDs himself but doesn't try to make me feel bad about them either. He likes certain sculpts I've shown him as well, which is always a nice surprise. In general, there's not too much support from anyone but also, no one disapproving so far. However, I'm not too deep into the hobby yet anyway (since I'm just starting out again from a long hiatus).

Spoiler: Family or Toys?

As for if dolls/BJDs are more like family or toys, well, that has been a complicated mess for me that initially started when collecting Dollfie Dreams a few years back. A lot of people I had encountered (not on DoA) seemed to push that "dolls are family", "dolls have feelings" or "dolls have their own personalities/thoughts", which I ended up trying to play into as well to see if it helped me bond better with the certain dolls I had at the time, etc. It DID NOT help at all. On the contrary, it made me feel worse. At the time, I didn't have much in the way of finances to get a lot of clothes or experiment with wigs, eyes, etc. So, with the mentality of "dolls are family/their own person" made me feel super guilty that I couldn't provide them with a lot of things along with making me feel even worse about myself. It was one of the reasons that pushed me away from the hobby and collecting Dollfie Dreams. With that being said, I would not see/prefer not to see them as "family" (though I can understand others viewing them that way as I, personally, have felt similar feelings towards other items in my home ). As for seeing them as toys, I would never really consider these types of dolls as that (unless they are rag dolls, playline dolls or something in that vein). Normal resin BJDs are usually much too fragile for that kind of play and can be quite expensive/annoying to fix if certain parts kept being broken, if one treated them as purely toys.

Spoiler: What I Consider My Dolls/BJDs

As for how I view my own dolls/BJDs, I'd say I view them more as interactive art pieces with character possibilities (of course, they don't need to be a character for me to be able to enjoy them though). The interactive part comes from what the doll/BJD can do physically (pose, hold things) and that they can facilitate others to connect with other doll/BJD owners/enthusiasts while the art part comes from how they are sculpted and the creative things we can do with them (photography, fashion design, stories, etc). Which, so far, I really enjoy the photography aspect of dolls/BJDs and thought about using some of my dolls/BJDs as models to practice drawing human proportions/body parts/poses (like how people use the little wooden doll in art classes).

 

I dont think family is the right word, but my one doll I have is more like an extension of myself.
Her customization is made out of things that found their way to me over the span of 10 years.

Her forgead gem was a birthday gift.
Her bottom skirt layer is from my graduation dress.
Many of her fabrics were gifts from friends or family.
And I assembled the outfit myself, pattern drafting and all.

When I first started counciling, and when I first stayed in the psych ward for depression, she was with me.

She is a part of me, and I am thankful my family understands and accepts her significance.

 

I've been lucky - my family doesn't quite get the hobby, but they're supportive so long as I stay responsible with my spending...and I do, of course. My partner is wonderfully supportive, surprisingly so considering he isn't even adjacent to this kinda hobby - he doesn't collect ANYTHING. It's baffling. But if I call on him to help me with a photoshoot, he's there no matter how silly the things I ask him to do are. It's wonderful.

As for the dolls themselves...It's a mix. I have a lot, so I can't treat them all like family or like toys. They're more like...photo models, outlets for art, representatives of things I like or projects I'm working on. But a couple of them are closer to companions than anything else. I've always got at least one with me when I go to work during the week, and if I'm feeling lonely when I get home I'll take one of them out and sit them by me while I go about whatever I'm doing. It's like having a little friend but without any of the pesky obligations of maintaining a friendship! I love my human friends, but it IS nice to just put a doll on a shelf for a while when I'm feeling super antisocial, come back a month later, and not have them be mad, lol.

 

The story between my family of origin and my hobby is a bit sordid and lengthy, but the short version is that they now accept my hobby even though they don't really "get it." As for the family I've built, my husband is very supportive of my various hobbies and is fine with me having them as long as I don't put us in a financial hole over it. The only aspect he's even mildly critiqued is that I need to finish some of the dolls I have before buying new ones, which...yeah, that's a fair ask at this point. My husband's a Lego guy, so even if he doesn't get the "doll" thing specifically, he understands expensive toy collecting and niche interests.

My dolls are probably more like extensions of me or, in some cases, expressions of love than they are toys or family. I'm a creative type, like many people in this hobby, and my various creations are often reflections of my mental/emotional state. My dolls are no exception. In many ways, they are physical manifestations of both my best qualities and my worst. Add in that I get emotionally attached to objects fairly easily and it's no wonder that they rank above "toys" for me. On the other hand, my dolls could be replaced if push came to shove. I would be gutted to lose them, of course, but I would eventually recover and rebuild my collection. My loved ones, my family, are truly irreplaceable to me. In that sense, my dolls absolutely rank below "family."

 

For me there is certainly an aspect of companionship to having a doll. Maybe not family but certainly a treasured friend. I am however also one of those people who get very attached to inanimate objects as well as lean towards animism as a baseline.

I don't think I will ever be a big collector because of that reason. There are only so many dolls I can reasonably take care of and wouldn't want any of them to feel neglected.

 

I kind of see my BJDs as ... their own individual characters. Neither toy nor family, but some secret third option. Though, I suppose they are nearer toys than family for me. I see them as art pieces, something that can be displayed and look nice, but also serve as a representation of a character to me.

 

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I feel extremely attached to my dolls, but they are neither toys nor family. For me they are inspiration for character creation and stories, and a tool to be more creative and productive in my free time ... if that makes sense.

 

I always get really emotionally attached to objects I own, dolls included, but I tend to see my dolls more as incarnations of characters, or maybe art pieces. Not really the same way I see other kinds of dolls, and not really like family (yet?).

I definitely would be agonized if I had to sell any that were characters I really liked (which is, and will be, pretty much all of them). Out of all my belongings, if I had to prioritize, they'd probably come maybe third, after my computer and my drawing tablet? Just because those are generally more important to daily life and more expensive overall.

But outside of drawing, dolls has become my other number one hobby tbh, so they're definitely really important to me, just in a way that can't really be categorized into "objects" or "family".

 

My dolls are neither family nor toys for me. I giving a lot of personal energy for each of them, and they are like individual people or character I taking care of. I m very creative person, so I see like in a mirror, part of my creativity in my dolls, manifestation of my good and bad qualities.. I could say they are like a friends, nice and understanding, bringing joy and happiness in my life.

 

My all dolls are an important part of my family. I love them really so much and i never think about them like a toys.
I breathed a soul into them, they are a part of me. Maybe Im a little bit crazy

 

I'd say I see mine as closer to pets, but not exactly the same. I love them dearly, and I like to play with them and take care of them, but they are more of a creative outlet more than anything else. And even though I do play, it's more like... enjoying the process of dressing them, posing on their shelves, taking pictures etc. I don't play tea-party like I used to with my barbies.

 

I'd say I view mine more like a cherished stuffed animal. They're "toys" sure, but you play with them differently than you do your other toys and you actually love and grow attached to them in a different, more intimate way. They're also something you aren't going to outgrow or lose interest in like you would other toys. They're something special and the comparison above relating it to the love you'd have for a pet is fair.

 

I don't think such a callous response was necessary. But you're fine to feel however you do.

 

Thank you for editing your original response. It was for the best.

 

to me i see my dolls like articulated marble sculptures, they are just a pretty thing to have around the house akin to a porcelain statues you see in grandma’s knick-knack collection, not to mention the positive thing about it is that they don't shatter into pieces like a porcelain statues would and they are articulated in a way that stands the test of time unlike action figurines or fashion dolls, yeah they can get yellowed or small bits from extremities can brake off but i would rather take that risk over the latter

 

For me, dolls hold a lot of memories and play a special role in my life. They are my faithful friends.

 

for me, they're toys but they also have a special little spark of magic. like the more love and time you put into them, they take on a little life of their own, if that makes sense?

 

For me dolls are more like cats, especially large ones - silent, independent, almost the same weight and size. Definitely they are neither family nor toys. For being toys they are too self-willed (proper eyes, wigs, clothes, you know what I mean). For being family they are too plastic . But сharacters which attached to that dolls can be cherished and loved and they are usually.

 

I see my dorries as special toys. Unlike collectibles that are normally stuck in a glass cabinet to just be looked on and admired the way they look, I take pride and joy in customizing my dorries based on my characters (either old OC's or ones that were created the first time I saw them in online stores).

 

It's an unexpectedly hard question to answer, but I'd say neither really fits.
Maybe like a part of my soul that I project onto an object?

 

My dolls are a bit of both categories of family and collectibles, but mainly family for certain dolls. My husband and I "adopted" our first doll back when we were just dating so she's kind of like our "daughter" as well as the two other first ones. Everyone else are kind of extended family or collectibles to us. Some of my family and friends consider them just collectibles but the inner circle kind of view certain dolls as family (the original one and the two soon after) so it's kind of nice having that. My friend that got into the hobby with her husband after we did have also their treasured dolls but I'm not sure if they are family or treasured family heirlooms at this point. It's surreal to think that some of my dolls would be considered college age now if they were real kids so it's fascinating to see how long we've had them as far as hobbies go. We also have other hobbies too that we share but it's fascinating thinking about how the items in our BJD hobby could be construed as family while our other hobbies don't necessarily have that kind of closeness. Maybe a teddy bear or two, but the teddy is not a hobby object.

I guess it boils down to if the object in question is sentimental and has more value than just being an object. Like an "attachment object" which can be an object that one is attached to because of sentimental value or you are bonded to it or it has some special meaning or association with it. I learned recently that in my culture there is this concept called "anima." It was never explicitly taught in my family and it isn't necessarily a religious thing either. It's kind of like the concept that something has a soul in it. More common items that have "anima" would be an urn with a deceased relative's ashes or a family heirloom associated with a relative. But non-traditional things can have anima. Like my childhood teddy bear has "anima". It didn't have anima in the early years but after a few decades my family and close friends feel it has something of like a soul because it's been around so long that he seems to have a personality to them even though they themselves are of different ethnic backgrounds, culture, and religions that are different from my own. It's a curious thing having people feel teddy's anima.

Going back to my first BJD, she has anima too, especially now that it's closer to two decades that she is ours. Friends ask how's she doing like a relative even though she just sits on a surface somewhere or that they were thinking of her which amazes me as I don't advertise her or even talk about her. I mean, it's probably on par with asking how the family cat or dog is doing, but still. Of all the things I collect, she and the teddy bear get asked about.

Someone said above about pets and I agree that pets by default are family in my family without question. But it's funny to think how certain inanimate objects end up having "anima," a soul, and are considered family after a certain amount of time. That being said, I do realize that I have supportive family, friends, and even in-laws that not only accept my various hobbies but some even share with me in those same hobbies.

Hmm...in regards for selling your dolls because you need money for college, that's a personal choice as well as a financial choice. I had a friend that sold her doll collection during hard times (she needed money for herself and her aging, ailing parents) and she regretted selling certain dolls she sold and even tried to buy back either one whole doll back or just the head. But, it was a necessary survival thing on her part. My husband and I had multiple instances of financial hardships ourselves over the years but we didn't sell our dolls but instead found work, sold cans or had garage sales, or changed careers that had better employment opportunities. If there are things you can sell that don't have sentimental value and are not like family heirlooms and are replaceable, see what you can do. If you are able to, just find any job to help pay for college. It's just a stepping stone and not a permanent thing. Depending on the college or higher education institution (trade school, apprenticeship, community college, etc), the cost of tuition could easily be like two to three Volks LE dolls (so around the $3600 for a two year program for an AS degree if I'm going to average it out). You already have the skills to save up for this hobby, so translate that into whatever form of higher education you want for yourself. Your life, your choice. Don't let someone else force you into something you don't want to do.

Lastly, it's good to surround yourself with people that are supportive but also can tell you how it is in a respectful way. BJD collecting can be a little too addictive to some people and it can cause financial ruin if you surround yourself with enablers that may not know your full financial situation. If you know your financial limits and understand that this hobby can be addictive in the wrong way (buying dolls and doll related things impulsively without thought to financial situation, asking for money from others without earning any money yourself, using money for dolls instead of medical stuff, etc), then you are way ahead of a lot of people that do end up falling into that rabbit hole. But...anyone in this hobby a long time knows that some people tend to get addicted to this hobby in the wrong way or have the personality type to be impulsive and just buy because of the feeling of missing out so doing a very real check-in with yourself every once in a while is a good thing to do, especially with this hobby. It isn't mean when we say make sure to be honest with yourself and to really think if this hobby is harming you. A quick, "Does your monthly expenses exceed your monthly income?" check-in helps. If you don't know how to do that or your monthly expenses consistently exceeds your monthly income, then yeah...maybe you might have a problem but it's not too late to start now in changing that.

I think others have said it already, but if your mom is telling you to sell your dolls to pay for college, without knowing your situation fully, I am just assuming it is because she is worried you are spending more on dolls than saving up for college. However, if you are saving for college AND also able to afford to enjoy your hobbies, that is fine. Finding family and friends that not only accept your hobby but are supportive of it too is one way of feeling less trapped. Like, cars, sports, make-up, and designer clothing/shoes are expensive hobbies but because they are more mainstream people tend to not bat an eye about them. Just be really honest with yourself with your financial situation, your involvement in your hobby (is it only a hobby or is it an addiction now?), and find a healthy balance of it all.

 

They are more like artwork to me than a toy or family. OC is probably closest to it

 

Mom saying sell doll to pay for college ? The dolls aren't selling like peanuts sometimes it takes long time to sell them and if you want to sell them in a good price even longer sometimes you have to wait for years to sell off a collection , I am selling and I know I use several venues and I think it will take me some time and not make me back a fortune , yes I'll get some money back and this is good but not enough to pay for like a university/college price and certainly i don't expect to get them whenever I like it's more of opportunity and luck thing , what a stupid way of thinking this mother hasselling collectibles for emergency , they are not gold to pawn it instantly. Anyway sorry for the intervention but I'm selling now and this sounded so naive and ignorant of any collectibles market.

 

My fanily doesn't like my hobby since is expensive. They can't understand that my dolls are my spoiled ones and I love to buy clothes and shoes for them. Specialy for my Lusio Dell, she is de the real spoiled one. I can understand they have they our opinion about this but since I live with my parents I can't buy as much dolls as I would like. To my, my babies are like my other family.

 

I view dolls more as collectible art than anything. To me they are an extension of my and others' self-expression. This goes for any doll I own, not just BJDs (mostly because I don't own any BJDs yet, just got back into the hobby recently). This is part of the reason why I want to get into doing faceups and eventually making entire dolls. I think I'm just a rather artistically inclined person. Of course, others are free to have their own unique bonds and reasons for owning their dolls, and that's part of what I love about the hobby.

 

My dolls are my story muses, vice versa, and creative visual expression since I'm no longer able to draw due to trauma. While I continue to invest in and polish my current dolls, at some point I will need to do doll maintenance. I like to think of them as dependents under my care. Or at least the closest equivalent to since I have neither children nor active pets.

 

I can see a lot of back and forth points each having their validity. For me they are just toys but with a lot of sentimental value as most were gifts.