My Secret Shame Is…

One Student Edge member opens up and reveals their undying attachment to a childhood teddy.

The most embarrassing thing about myself would have to be the fact that I still sleep with my childhood toy, which is like a teddy. I’m slowly relinquishing the hold I have on him, but because I went through a rough patch as a kid and had to grow up fairly quickly to deal with what happened to me, I held onto one thing and that was the toy I was given at birth.

My parents had tried to find another when I got him, so they could alternate them when it came time to wash my cherished buddy, but they never found anything as similar. That made it difficult for them to pry him away from me whenever he needed a clean. Even if they guaranteed me I would have him back by bed time, I never believed them until he was safely back in my arms.

It seems silly to other individuals to hold onto a childhood toy with the amount of strength I have held onto mine. To them it may be ridiculous but to me he has always been a comfort when I’m upset, scared, confused or worried. He is always there; a constant companion I can always count upon.

Whenever he got holes, I would cry to my mum until she fixed him. He was special to me and still is, even as I begin to relinquish the strong hold I have on him and the need to have him with me every night. Even though I love him, it embarrasses me that I still need him with me at night. Yet, as embarrassing as it is telling a partner or a friend who hasn’t slept over before or hasn’t slept over for a long time that I still need my childhood toy to get to sleep, I wouldn’t give him up for someone else. It is something I need to do in my own time and something I will one day accomplish.

Congratulations to Emily for winning this writing challenge. Emily wins a $50 Westfield gift card. For your chance to win, check out our latest writing challenges in our Comps section. Also, be sure to follow this guide on how to win the writing challenge!