My own American girl is obsessed with American Girl stuff. She’s had a “Bitty Baby” (aka a baby doll) for quite a few years. Then a couple of years ago, she asked for an American Girl doll. She received a blond curly doll for Christmas.
For awhile, the American Girl doll just sat, untouched. But something recently renewed her interest in the doll.
She spends her free time perusing the American Girl website, compiling lists and computing prices. She tapes together cardboard to create furniture for her doll. She cleared two shelves of her bookshelf to make space for her American Girl doll’s bedroom. She longs to visit the American Girl store in Los Angeles. She asked me to order a special brush so she can fix her doll’s hair.
That American Girl stuff is expensive. It’s ridiculous, really.
But knowing that my 10-year old daughter is playing with dolls is priceless. This won’t last forever.
Nothing ever does.
And now, let’s all join together and sing along:
Actual Unretouched Photo 
My daughter (who is nearly 27 now) had 3 of them along with a rubbermaid tub full of clothes and accessories which were left here when she moved to Montana. My granddaughter Ava now plays with them when she comes over. And you’re right, they are ridiculously expensive, however they are so well made and last forever if taken care of. Her first doll was Molly – and she decided that Molly would look better without braids – and her hair was never the same. Finally, we made the decision that we had paid a lot for this doll and her hair was ruined, so we shipped Molly off to the American Girl Hospital where her braids were made right again. She arrived back at our house after about 2 weeks, wearing a hospital gown and bracelet, along with a little get well balloon. It’s those special touches that make American Girl what it is today. At that time, you could only get the dolls by mail – from Pleasant Prairie, WI. There were no American Girl stores around. Now there is one in Chicago, and whenever we head in (by train – traffic is gahh!!!) we see little girls carrying their dolls, and moms carrying bags from the American Girl store. Most of my daughters collection was birthday and Christmas, and much of it was homemade from craft fairs. Those days went by so fast, and I remember feeling much like you – she only liked them for a short amount of time. Sorry for the novel – your post just brought me back…
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American Girl holds a very special place in my heart. . .I started working there back in the days when it was Pleasant Company and I met my husband there–I worked in accounting and he worked in IT. That was 21 years ago and I so wish that I would have made better use of my employee discount (and that I would have had an inkling about what ebay would do to retired items from that era–we could have put a serious dent in the cost of college had I only known :)) now that I have two daughters who have just about outgrown doll play. We packed my 14 year olds extensive Samantha and Nellie collection up last summer, my 11 year old still gets Molly out an plays from time to time but Molly’s clothes are still often seen on some webkinz or another. But you are absolutely right that despite their price the fact that it’s okay for girls to play with toys until they’re almost teenagers makes them worth every single penny.
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Goodness….enjoy these days….my almost 18 yr old daughter tried to give herself a tattoo with henna, sewing pins and an xacto knife. I kid you not. Heaven help me, I hope we both survive till adulthood.
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Loved this post – and the memories it brought back from my doll-playing days. I played with dolls until I was 13, then went immediately into liking boys. Big mistake! Should have stuck with playing with dolls.
But the part that really got me was the song. No, I didn’t cry (I cry at almost everything these days – funny or sad) – I sobbed. Out-loud-snot-producing sobs. Guess it’s because I hear myself in the words he sings – and because I know how easy it is to promise, but how shallow those promises turn out to be. Sorry!
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Wow, I rarely click on your side bar, but check out Anybody Home? a couple times a year. Anonymous left an amazing comment there about her Dutch town being freed from the Germans to the sound of bagpipers 68 years ago today.
The contrast with your daughter being able to focus on playing with American dolls is striking.
We have a lot to be thankful for….
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