[mimi2112]

I'm wondering how many of us here had imaginary friends when we were children. I doubt mine was imaginary in the first place--crazy as it may sound. I believe my friend was some kind of guardian spirit. Of course the grown- ups in my life told me that having an imaginary friend was not acceptable and that it was time for me to tell him to get lost. I wonder if my former friend is still around, I kinda think he is.

I'd like to hear from people who had an "imaginary" friend. What was it's name? What did you do together? When did it go away? What do you think about it now that you are an adult?

[Gr3tta]

Ha! I find this post hilarious since a good number of my "imaginary friends" from childhood still visit me today. At a certain point it started becoming unacceptable to talk about them or to them in front of others, so I quit it. For a long time I had no system for deciphering who was "acceptable" (real to everyone) and "unacceptable" (real only to me) so I quit talking to or about other people at all. This was called "being shy" or "introverted." Negative, but not as negative. as crazy. I think my child self did an excellent little cover up job there.

[The_little_didgee]

I had two main imaginary friends a girl named Sophia and her dog Spotty. There was a boy named Paul as well but he wasn't really a close friend. Usually, we went on fun adventures.

My friends disappeared when I was around 11. I think moving into a new house contributed to it.

When I was a child, I did not have many friends. A lot of my time was spent alone. My imaginary friends eased my feelings of loneliness and isolation. They were also loyal friends unlike the physical variety.

My mother used to wonder why I talked to myself a lot. When I told her I was talking with my friends she told me to think rather than talk out loud. I always made sure when she was around to be quiet. Usually, I visited with my imaginary friends when I was alone. I also drew a lot of my visits with them.

Interesting. Sometimes I have visitors.

[faerie_moon_x]

I had two imaginary friends as well. They were brother and sister. The first one was Jeff. He was a boy my age and he started up really early. My mom used to tell the story that in pre-school catechism one time we had to draw our families. I drew my mom, dad, me, and Jeff. I was so insistant with the teacher that Jeff was a member of my family that she asked my mom if I had an older brother. I was the kid that would panic because other people who didn't see Jeff might accidentally sit on him.

I don't remember how old I was, but later came Jeff's sister, Mary Anne. They were actually twins. I don't know why I came up with Jeff first. Anyway, Jeff and Mary Anne built a house on the top of our evergreen tree in the front yard. It was a flat platform with no walls and it was prefectly balanced. When at home, they always had to stand on oposite sides of the platform so it didn't fall.... Mary Anne also had the magical power to transform herself into one of my dolls. I don't remember when Jeff and Mary Anne went away, but it was before my mom died.

Then there is Other Me, who I never counted as an imaginary friend. I don't remember when I got her, but I think it was also before my mom died.

I feel lucky, no one ever told me imaginary friends are bad. In fact, my mom would tell me it was a sign that I was very creative. She used to brag about my imaginary friends. Haha.