s/o American Girl dolls - did you have one?

[gummybear]

And how old are you? I googled and they came out in 1986, but I never even heard of them until I had a child of my own. Was I just insulated from them? Or were they late coming to my area? Everyone seems to know a lot about them and their stories and I am so clueless. 

I'll be 38 in May. 

[Deleted]

I was in fifth grade when it started.

So.

No.

[mellimel19]

No I didn't, though I always wanted one. But we were poor, and AG dolls were pretty expensive even when I was a kid. I mentioned this once to DH when we first started dating and were chatting about our childhoods. He remembered, and ended up getting me one for our first anniversary. It was so sweet.

I also never had a Cabbage Patch Doll. Feel sorry for me and my deprived childhood

[wannabe]

I'm 43. I never heard of them till the teen turned 8 and the ILs bought her one.

I think the accessories and outfits are adorable and well made, but no way would I have bought her a $100+ doll.

/cheapskate

[Bernadine]

I'm 32. I didn't have one- my parents couldn't afford it. Luckily, my best friend at the time was very generous with her AG stuff, and her parents were loaded, so she had a lot. Lol.

[Deleted]

Feb 26, 2015 14:11:46 GMT -5 wannabe said:

I'm 43. I never heard of them till the teen turned 8 and the ILs bought her one.

I think the accessories and outfits are adorable and well made, but no way would I have bought her a $100+ doll.

/cheapskate

We bought our niece a companion horse for $75?

I hate myself.

[HiC]

I was in college when they started. But we're (well, dd is) making up for that now.

[bcv513]

It was big with my friends. I was born in 83. I had a Samantha. Actually, she still sits in my parents' house. My mom said if she paid that much for it, it's going to be used dammit. lol

[zoomzoom]

Also 43. Never heard of them until maybe 10 years ago? What a racket. Lol.

[CurlyQ284]

I am 30, I had all the historical ones. The ones that they made to look like you came out right as I was getting too old and I got one of those too. Except Kirsten looked like me so I got a brunette.

Little bit spoiled lol.

[cinco]

Nope. I also turn 38 this year. I hadn't heard of them until college or so?

[cville]

I'm 38 (I JUST turned 38. This is important to me, lol). I remember a girl I carpooled with to swim practice had one, but she was several years younger than me and swam in a different pool (for real, like, the pool with the little kids).

[zoomzoom]

Feb 26, 2015 14:12:31 GMT -5 @misoangry said:

Feb 26, 2015 14:11:46 GMT -5 wannabe said:

I'm 43. I never heard of them till the teen turned 8 and the ILs bought her one.

I think the accessories and outfits are adorable and well made, but no way would I have bought her a $100+ doll.

/cheapskate

We bought our niece a companion horse for $75?

I hate myself.

That is insane!  We bought our niece the little kitty for 30 bucks.  It's smaller than a damn dog toy.  Whomever thought of this is brilliant.  

[pittsmcgee]

I'm 32 and no, I did not.
I got the catalogs and tortured myself, but my parents would absolutely not buy me a doll that was that expensive.

[papie]

I've only ever heard about them here, lol.  They have a canadian version too, and my kids know about them, but we don't own any. 

When I was a kid it was all about Barbie and Cabbage Patch Kids. 

[shell24]

Never had a doll, but I do remember reading a few of the books. They only had Samantha, Kirsten, and maybe Molly?  I think I was in 5th grade, so about 1988 (I am turning 36).   I had no idea at the time that there were dolls associated with the books.  

[lightbulbsun]

I'm 28, and I had Molly. I wasn't really allowed to play with her much because she was so expensive, lol. Kind of pointless.

[sicilygirl]

I read some of the books as a kid, but I don't remember the dolls. I didn't have one, and neither did anyone else I knew. I'm 30.

[Deleted]

Feb 26, 2015 14:13:55 GMT -5 zoomzoom said:

Feb 26, 2015 14:12:31 GMT -5 @misoangry said:

We bought our niece a companion horse for $75?

I hate myself.

That is insane!  We bought our niece the little kitty for 30 bucks.  It's smaller than a damn dog toy.  Whomever thought of this is brilliant.  

It was this one.  Or something like it.  I don't remember.  I just remember being angry.  LOL.

[Deleted]

No but I got the magazine when it first came out which was pretty fun. I was too poor to get a doll but I would stare wistfully at them in the catalog.

[Deleted]

Also.

Are girls just playing with dolls longer now?

My niece is nine and still loving American Girl, and I'm like...

Or, of course, this could just be my niece.

She is only in third grade.  I was in fifth grade when I was nine.

I guess there's that.

[snshne322]

I'm 32, I had Kirsten. I never played with her though. I knew they were expensive and I could practically see my parents clench when I brought her out. I even still have the original box that I store her in. Maybe I'll give her to my (unborn) niece when she's older.

[gummybear]

Feb 26, 2015 14:17:53 GMT -5 @misoangry said:

Also.

Are girls just playing with dolls longer now?

My niece is nine and still loving American Girl, and I'm like...
Or, of course, this could just be my niece.

She is only in third grade.  I was in fifth grade when I was nine.

I guess there's that.

My daughter is 7 and her two besties in the neighborhood are 9. They def still get AG stuff for Christmas/birthdays and still play with them occasionally. The 9 year-olds are both in 3rd grade. 

[kaybee85]

I'm 29 and I had (have) Samantha. I was probably 9 when I got her? (@misoangry)

I also bought a Bitty Baby when I was way too old to buy a doll. Like..14? I have no idea what possessed me, but now I have a nice baby doll to give to my kid when she reaches an appropriate age.

[Deleted]

Feb 26, 2015 14:21:40 GMT -5 gummybear said:

My daughter is 7 and her two besties in the neighborhood are 9. They def still get AG stuff for Christmas/birthdays and still play with them occasionally. The 9 year-olds are both in 3rd grade. 

Hmm.  I guess I am the weirdo then.  LOL.

[CurlyQ284]

I was 9 when I got my first doll. SDs were like 7 and by 9 were over it.

[Deleted]

Feb 26, 2015 14:23:44 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

:-#

Well, how long are kids supposed to play with dolls?

[papie]

Feb 26, 2015 14:17:53 GMT -5 @misoangry said:

Also.

Are girls just playing with dolls longer now?

My niece is nine and still loving American Girl, and I'm like...

Or, of course, this could just be my niece.

She is only in third grade.  I was in fifth grade when I was nine.

I guess there's that.

My 7yo barely touches her Barbies anymore.  I played with mine until...13??? DON'T JUDGE ME.  I GOT THEM NAKED AND MADE THEM LAY UNDER KEN. 

[Deleted]

I think I played with dolls til I was 11 or 12. But I was homeschooled from 8-11 years old.

[papie]

Feb 26, 2015 14:24:47 GMT -5 @misoangry said:

Feb 26, 2015 14:23:44 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

:-#

Well, how long are kids supposed to play with dolls?

It depends.  Are they losers or not?