Unusual Problem with Souldoll Celestyn

This is totally random, but something about Celestyn's face reminds me of the White Witch from the Narnia movie. I don't know if your daughter's seen it (it seems too scary for a 3 1/2 year old), but.

 

Could it have anything to do with how tall Willow is? In addition to her fey look? Perhaps your daughter doesn't see her as a doll because she is bigger than your others. Although Boding Sharmin looks kind of scarey, she's relatively small compared to Celestyn.

 

The height, tattoos/markings, different ears and forehead, etc...

Celestyn is absolutely beautiful, but I think if I were a little kid, I might freak out, too, just because she/he doesn't look quite like -anything- I've ever seen before.

I don't suppose you have a picture we can see? Maybe we can see and figure out what might be frightening her?

 

Well I had planned on getting Celestyn and having Soul Doll do a custom paint with gold and white with a hint of yellow mixed for a "Angel" look, maybe if you have some white fabric and dressed Willow as a angel to protect your other dolls, that might calm her fears. Might but who knows.

 

I am so sorry to hear your story..and so happy for you that everyone here is so caring and helpful. I see the points about the non-humanoid thing, the Narnia thing, and a bunch of these ideas.. or it really could just be that Willow reminds her of someone in her dreams or in real life that she doen't like..but I srongly agree with the comments about the eyes..not just Willow(who is sooooo beautiful) but that general asiter/celestyn scowly stern thing they have going on...which I LOVE btw.
I read a post where someone was saying they changed out the eyes in their Asiter for a larger size and that this changed his stern expression to a softer one. Also eye "position" REALLY affects the mood of a given doll..I am constantly reminded of this everytime I see a juri that looks like she is gonna kick my ass because mine looks like she wants to go hello kitty shoppin' .Also I have a friend who showed me all the different people her Re Che could be by changing nothing but the eye position (shoulda known but at the same time never would have guessed!) Try playing with the eyes and see if it helps. I just know it will!
There are so many good suggestions here, I personally have a feeling that whatever is disturbing her cannot be fixed with presents (even tho it's a brilliant idea), but stories are good. Healthy creative stories can attempt to edit our personal mythologies that even little kids have by way of their collective unconscious. Still, body language, tone of voice and eyes are where we draw from so strongly and intuitively as kids before we learn to be duped by everybody's "show"..what kids see there is true stuff and they know it.
I hope it all works out for you. As with any newcomer in a child's life, Willow will just have to prove herself and earn your baby's trust. I have faith that she will not have to leave her home

 

I don't know much about kids, but my fear is that if you sold Willow, you'd be telling your daughter that there was reason to be scared of her. Can you slowly try to associate Willow with things your child enjoys? Like, oh, off the top of my head, have Willow shyly bring her a little bowl of ice cream on occassion? Or, peak in the room and ask if it's OK to watch cartoons with her if she doesn't get too close?

 

edit/ nevermind since you've made your choice. I'd LOVE willow, she's the most beautiful Celestyn I've seen (though I've only seen her and the default one) I couldn't pay for her anytime soon though (I'm poor and have to many things to pay for right now)

 

I don't have kids, but if it were me, I wouldn't get rid of a doll especially when she will eventually "grow out of it" all kids a have fears of odd things, like I wrote before I was afraid of a blinking light on top of a local ice cream stand, and everytime we went by it I would cover my eyes so I wouldn't see it...it terrified me...but I liked the icecream there and we went there alot...

do I remember being scared of it? yes, has it hindered me as an adult..no..lol..I also was afraid of my bean bag chair my parents got me for a birthday present...I had wanted one so bad so they got me one...after I had seen "The Blob" on tv...gues what it looked like at night sitting in the corner of my room....lol children have unfounded fears of alot of things...its a part of growing up....
I went to eat at the icecream stand..and I used my bean bag chair.....and eventually your daughter will outgrow her fears...

don't get rid of the doll...maybe put it somewhere that you daughter won't see it but you will on a daily basis..someplace where she isn't allowed ...or put a flower in Willows hand as an offering, or put a small fuzzy stuffed animal in her hands.something to make her seem less stern..

your daughter may sense you are unhappy about getting rid of the doll and feel guilty, you might be resentful..not meaning to..but you waited for this doll as a gift to yourself...you deserve something nice too...but then I am a person that doesn't have kids.

here is a thought....do you have a close relative that could watch her for you..that way you woudn't have to sell her, and when you went to visit you could see willow...and when your daughter was older or not as fearful you could bring her back or take her to see Willow for a visit.....

but if you decide to sell her I might bid for adoption..she is so lovely.

 

If you can't stand to keep Willow in a box for a year or so until your daughter is older and possibly grows out of her fear, I'd say selling Willow is the right way to go ^^ And perhaps hold off on buying another doll until you know your daughter is ready for it... until she somehow shows she wants her mommy to adopt a new dollie for your doll family. It would be terrible to have to go through this again, if she shows fear towards your new doll as well.

 

Lishe--I think you made the right decision. ^^ I know that if I had a child, they'd come before the dolls anytime. I might hide them instead of sell them, but regardless, I think you've made an excellent decision--both in potentially strengthening your relationship with your daughter, and in calming her fears.

I know that when I was a child, I was TERRIFIED of the movie Ferngully--Hexus (the big smoke demon thing) scared me senseless, and if I so much as saw a poster for it I would burst into tears. I don't know why it scared me, it just did. I was a very sensible child and I knew that it was just a cartoon, but even that knowledge didn't help alleviate my fears. Perhaps it is the same for your Maddie, where she knows that there is nothing wrong about Willow, but is still scared? And even though I'm grown now, I'm still scared of that movie. I won't watch it. I don't like talking about it. There are just some things kids never outgrow. ^^; So rather than form a lasting fear of dolls (or even just of Willow), it's good to separate your daughter and your Celestyn. It's unfortunate that you have to part with such a beauty, but it's really admirable that you are when so many parents out there wouldn't think twice about the well-being of their child in a case like this.

Best of luck to you and her both, and I hope you find a doll you both love. ^____^

 

It's a pity but your choice is understandable. Do you not even have anyone far away who would take care of her?

 

This may seem a little weird...but perhaps your daughter sees more than just the doll? I remember when I was a little kid that my mother had a doll in the china cabinet that always looked like it had a black fog around it. It scared me to death. I hate to bring this up especially since Willow is a new doll, but my mothers doll was brand new when I first saw the haze too.

I'm not trying to start anything here, but I do understand what its like having a child around that is scared of things for no reason. I think children are innocents and she will eventually grow to where it doesn't bother her, but it may be best to sell Willow...I always like to keep an open mind about things...maybe it is just a feeling she has, or maybe its something unseen. Or perhaps its just another childhood fear that we don't understand.

In any case, I hope that your daughter is alright even after her fears have passed. Whether or not you sell the doll, maybe you should try talking to her more about it, but I would hate for you to have to risk seeing her cry again. Maybe ask her if there's another reason other than just the eyes.

It could be just the way the dolls eyes are shaped. Celestyns are beautiful, but in an eerie sort of way, you know.

 

Lishe, you are going to let us know what happens, aren't you? I keep thinking about your poor little one! Probably because I have a perverse little almost three year old too.

 

You know maybe it's late and I'm a little punchy, but there might be something to her instincts. At least, the doll symbolizes negative emotions for her.
Odelia is very pretty so I'm sure she won't be scared of her! Good luck to you and I'll be watching for updates.

 

Exactly what I thought!