How does your family react to the hobby ?

My family didn't have much of a reaction. Though my mother claims there are really her dolls. XD

 

My mum dotes on Ces and used to refer to him as her 'grandbaby' - I think it's part of her desire to see me married off and with a bunch of kids! Still, she's really nice about the hobby and has put up with me talking constantly about the doll that I have on the way. It's not really my dad's thing (he's more motorbikes and engines) but he said once that he thinks they're designed really well, and he was very impressed with the level of detail in Cesavier's sculpt when he first arrived. He still makes a point of taking an interest in everything I do though because he's amazing like that.

The rest of my family are just generally supportive - a 'if you like it, then it's all good' kind of attitude. There's a few that hate dolls but that's the only negative feedback I've got about it. My grandad - bless him - asked me if BJDs are 'the new Barbie' and affectionatley called Cesavier 'baldy' when I was having problems getting his wig to stay on.

 

I'm lucky to have supportive parents. My dad bought my second BJD for me as a Christmas gift this year and my mom and sister both made clothes. My sister has two dolls of her own and we got into the hobby together.

 

When I first got into the hobby, I was still pretty young. Young enough to the point where I obviously had to have permission, but old enough that I knew what I was talking about. I think it was my freshman year of high school when I discovered them. I can't remember when it was the first time I spoke to them about it.

My parents thought it was strange and they they were too expensive. So I just waited a while. And of course, the older you get, the more your parents listen to you and think things aren't just a phase. So I spoke to them when I wanted to order my first doll. By this point, I was just asking them because I needed their help in placing the order and such, as I didn't have my own paypal and I had no idea how it worked. I also just felt obliged. I live in their house and they deserve to know about the things that go on in it. Not to mention, I trust my parents immensely and I could never lie to them if I tried.

They still were hesitant and tried to give me advice on it. They thought I should find a cheaper one to see if I really liked them, but that wasn't going to sit well with me. I knew what I wanted. He was beautiful and amazing and nothing else would do. And I don't regret my decision on buying him first.

Then they tried to talk me out of it by talking about money and such. So I had to come up with similar things for them. I told them it's a hobby. A collection that I want to start. I related it to my mom's jewelry. She can never have enough. I told her it was just like that. She hangs them up where they're visible because they're pretty, she likes to put them on and show them off. I told her it was the same with dolls.
As for my dad, I told him that it was a bit similar to his old GIJoes that he still has in the basement. I think that warmed them up to the idea.

Now, they're pretty used to it, though not fond of it. They know now that this is just something I do. Just like my writing and drawing. I think my dad is pretty indifferent about it now, and he respects it. As for my mom, I think she tries to accept it. She'll let me tell her about new dolls I want or that I've ordered. Sometimes when I have August out, she'll say something funny. I think now that there's a doll in the house, it's easier for them to grasp.

(Besides, there's not much they can do about it now anyway, since I'm much older than I was when I wanted to get into the hobby.)

 

I'm still waiting on my first to poof into my hands. As of right now my mom supports me as long as "this is the only one -.-". She's made me promise to keep the doll forever and pass it on to my children and never to sell it. I've told her the actual price once and she has decided to ignore it as i'm using my own money to buy it (as long as its the only one). My dad has absolutely no clue and I'll probably try not to say too much to him. I have a good hunch that he won't approve of spending that much on a doll since it costs the same price as a laptop...

My boyfriend is fairly supportive, he thinks its a little "odd" but he's actually helping me buy the first! As for my friends? It depends who they are, my close friends are pretty supportive (I even have a few that want to be called "aunties" around the doll...oh boy ) and the other friends vary... some say "Hes SO PRETTY!" and others go "HES PRETTY BUT DON'T DO IT!!!"...

Oh well.

 

My mom doesn't really mind either way. I have a job, so it's my own money I'll be spending. I haven't told my dad the price, because he'll probably disapprove (he wouldn't say anything or try to stop me though).
In general, people question why I would spend that much. I explain the artistic aspect. How it can help me with my drawing and shading, how I can improve my sewing skills without using as much fabric and other things. Then they understand that it's an investment.
My sister would do anything to sway me out of it if she found out. Which is why she'll be under the impression that it was bough second hand for less than a hundred dollars. What she doesn't know won't hurt her.

 

My boyfriend is really supportive. We live together and also share our money. Otherwise I wouldn't have been able to get most dolls.
My parents know of them (though not about the price) but don't care much.
I also don't live close to them so I don't share my hobby with them at all.

 

Both my mother and sister have a pretty big problem with my doll hobby. My mother alternates between being scared of them and disgusted by them. I certainly never ask her to be involved in any way with the dolls, but if she does happen to see one she usually gets upset. She thinks they are disgusting and inappropriate (I do own a Volks DDdy, though she's always covered head to toe), and at times frightening. I think she believes they'll kill her in her sleep.

My sister on the other hand just thinks they are stupid. She tends to have a general disregard for other people's feelings, but particularly when my dolls are concerned. Again I try to keep them separate from her, but at times I'll find her tossing their wigs/clothes to the dog or some such odd behavior.

My boyfriend's family however is very accepting. The boyfriend and his mother think it's a little odd, but mostly harmless. His dad is pretty interested in it, and we tend to have lots of discussions about the dolls themselves. So regardless of how my family feels, I have some safe haven with my boyfriend's.

 

My parents didn't really understand but they were cool about it. But my dad was supportive while my mom really wasn't.

My dad loves things that are unique and custom, and you can't get more custom/unique then bjd.
My dad bought me my first two BJDs and he has always been the type of parent to be supportive in anything i want to do as long as its kept me off the pole or the corner. For the most part he likes them somewhat and is curious about them. I just ordered a doll from the DOA marketplace and he was all curious. " why do you want this doll?"
" is it a good company"
" what year was it made?"
" what about the Face Up do you like?"
its nice that my dad is supportive and curious about the hobby even though its not a hobby he does.

My mom on the other hand doesn't really care.She would never stop me from collecting BJDs but won't encourage the hobby either. My mom for the most part is the type of person who if she doesn't like it then has absolutely no interest in it whatsoever. As long as they don't make a mess of her house and aren't just laying around the house she has no problem with the hobby. BUT she also would never buy me a doll because she thinks its pointless.

 

The first person I really talked about dolls with was my sister. She seemed fairly accepting. She calls me weird and stuff, but I can see in her eyes that she found some of them as lovely as I did. I think she is also attracted to the photography aspect of the hobby, since she is a photographer as a hobby So My sisters intro went well, even though she still teases me about it. She teases me about a lot of things, but just to be playful.

I've mentioned dolls to my mom before. She never really says a lot. When I told her I bought one (I was so excited!), she imidiately ruined my mood that night. She got really angry and asked me why I would buy a doll, and she insisted on knowing a price and I couldn't tell her I spend close to $500 (She heard rumors from my sis I was thinking about spending $600+). Her reaction really upset me, so I didn't say a whole lot to her. I think she felt how hurt I was, so she started asking less hostile questions. She kept asking why, and at the time, I felt so dumb saying "Because I like them". She asked how long I've liked dolls, and I told her about a year or more, and that suprised her. I guess she just never noticed, even when I would talk about it on facebook and stuff She was also suprised it was a boy doll.

So, a few days later, my spirits are back up and I approach my mom again. I start showing her pictures of the doll I bought, and I could see her warm up to it. I even showed her a girl doll I might get soon as a companion and she thought she was so pretty. So now my mom is ok with dolls I think, but she still doesn't know how much I spent or how much I plan to spend ;^;

 

My best friend luckily got a bjd before me, so I had someone to talk about them with. My sister was sort of down on the dolls until she got one ( and now she posts here ). My mom didn't get dolls either until I explained that for me, a big appeal of the dolls was the customization and character creation aspects of the hobby. She was still a bit critical of my interest in bjds, but then she saw a doll someone had modded to look like a character from a TV show she loves. I told her we could easily so the same for her and she got excited. This time when I showed her what I intended to do with my incoming doll (Angelsdoll Baku) she was very supportive. I think she now understands the only difference between what she wants to do with her doll and what I do with mine is I'm bringing my own characters to life. On a side note, my mom will be getting a doll as soon as she settles on a sculpt and has the money. She still thinks the expensive ones are a waste of money and she doesn't understand having more than one with multiple outfits. I told her she will change her mind as soon as she wants to make another character from the show lol.

 

My Fiancee' (I think that's how you spell it) thinks they are absolutely adorable! Although, we have plans on getting married in the next 1-2 years...so that might change things a little bit. My mom thinks that the dolls are a complete waste of money and I shouldn't even buy them. Pfff, I can do what I want with MY money. My step-mom is like my fiancee' she thinks they are adorable and very interesting. Not that she'd get one. But at least she likes them. My dad when he was alive really liked them. He found their jointing and "anatomy-correct-ness" of them rather fascinating. My brother I don't even mention my dolls to...he wouldn't understand or really care. My mom's boyfriend I haven't even really shown him the dolls. I don't think he'd understand either. My friends want to see my dolls, but I keep forgetting to bring one up with me. At least, that's how my circle works.

 

They would never understand or accept it, I try not to let them know for as long as possible.

They're always saying I shouldn't have bought whatever I buy, that I'm childish, that I have too much stuff etc. I hope they'll never realise how much the dolls cost!

Whenever they see my dolls, I know they think they're children's toys and that I'm much too old to play with them. And that they're too expensive, even if they'd think the dolls cost like 5% of what they really cost.

Well, if they visit me (usually I visit them, they live in Finland) I'll just hide my dolls or tell them to ignore them (that sure won't work!)

 

Wow you are so lucky! My family thinks it's the most creepiest hobby they have ever seen, but they did buy me a doll for x-mass.

 

My family's pretty much okay with my doll. They call him by his name and not "your doll" or "the doll" and I think that's very cute, touching. XD Hahaha! My mom also made his Halloween costume.

My mom likes dolls too. Although she prefer girl dolls over boy ones. XD

So yeah, the only thing I think they're not okay with is the price of the doll. X.x

 

My experience with my family wasn't too bad. The main reaction I got was "Oh my god the price !"
My mom loves to sew so she was kind of happy I got into BJD. She should sneak into my room sometimes just to look at them. My dad on the other hand just sees them as a investment >o>

 

Well at first they were so SHOCKED about the Price!
But they offer me a deal that I may buy any BJD's I want but I had to stop Collecting Tonner Dolls & Figma.
So then, I sacrifice collecting Tonner dolls and Figma... sigh... Lol.
But it's totally worth it, I like BJD more.

 

My husband likes that I have a hobby, but he's not exactly overjoyed by the costs.. But hey, my money, my problem!
My children thinks mummy should buy pretty dollies more often! They love waiting for the dolls with me and they love hearing the backstories. I don't think anyone else knows.. But if they did, I bet they'd be horrified by how much I spend on the dolls. They're already complaining about how much I spend on clothes for the kids, and they're living, breathing children who needs good quality clothes fit for the swedish climat. I don't want to hear what they would say about the price of a pair of dolly jeans or shoes...

 

My mum has just told me that she's thinking about saving up for a doll of her own, an MSD girl apparently. It'd be awesome to have another doll enthusiast in the house!

 

In the beginning, when I was browsing for a doll, my parents thought it was a huge waste of money and that I should spend my money on more important things. At the time, I was a highschool student with no rent or bills to pay or even a car for that matter, so I wondered what the hell the money would go towards other than the occasional comic book? Eventually, my parents came to a small understanding, only because I said it was my money and I could do whatever I wanted with it. But even after I bought Gabe, they still disapproved of my hobby.
Today, I'm a 'stay at home' college student that only has to worry about gas for my car. My mom has kind of warmed up to my hobby but only because it's sprouted a whole new creative side to me. Sadly, my dad still disapproves of my doll, especially because he's absolutely convinced that Gabe's a girl. Although they have different views on the hobby itself, they both disapprove of me purchasing another doll, which is what I've been wanting to do for quite some time. The guilt trips and the speeches about finding a better use for my money rear back their ugly heads but they can't control the end result or my money(thank god) so it all eventually works out.