https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:58:36 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-would-youso-feel-about-imaginary-friends#post-428416 Sun, 02 Dec 2012 19:56:28 +0000 DigAPony 428416@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There's nothing creepy or strange about imaginary friends. I'm sure it's fairly common. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-would-youso-feel-about-imaginary-friends#post-428343 Sun, 02 Dec 2012 19:02:50 +0000 Happygal 428343@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love them. I've babysat for a lot of kids who have had them. For some, it's just an active imagination, while others seem comforted by having an imaginary friend who is really strong and brave. </p> <p>I'll never forget one girl who was a singleton and had an imaginary friend. When her little sister was born, her imaginary friend died. I think she told me the imaginary friend fell down the stairs. I know that sounds morbid, but it really wasn't, I promise! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-would-youso-feel-about-imaginary-friends#post-428124 Sun, 02 Dec 2012 15:43:19 +0000 MrsSCB 428124@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't see any problem with them and neither does DH. I think it just means your LO has a very strong and healthy imagination! I had a huge imagination when I was little--I'd pretend to be characters from my favorite movies (most often Ariel from The Little Mermaid and Wendy from Peter Pan, haha) and had imaginary friends. I turned out totally normal, I promise! :-) But I do work in a creative field now, so I wonder if having such a big imagination as a child could have helped lead to that? Who knows! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-would-youso-feel-about-imaginary-friends#post-428052 Sun, 02 Dec 2012 14:13:20 +0000 chopsuey 428052@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never had an imaginary friend.. Kinda creepy IMO! :D </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-would-youso-feel-about-imaginary-friends#post-428048 Sun, 02 Dec 2012 14:06:41 +0000 HLK208 428048@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: same here!</p> <p>I had one, but I don't remember pretending he was real. I just talked about him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-would-youso-feel-about-imaginary-friends#post-428046 Sun, 02 Dec 2012 13:59:07 +0000 Bao 428046@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think its normal and wouldn't mind! I had an imaginary friend when I was little. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-would-youso-feel-about-imaginary-friends#post-427675 Sun, 02 Dec 2012 09:03:03 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 427675@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really hope he doesn't....but if so, I want him to understand that the friend is imaginary. We won't be playing into it like its the real deal. I'm not pretending to see him or anything!<br /> My SO would think its time to have LO #2! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-would-youso-feel-about-imaginary-friends#post-427673 Sun, 02 Dec 2012 08:59:55 +0000 ladyfingers 427673@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't mind it. It never occurred to me as a conversation DH and I should have but I'd guess he feels the same way. I had an imaginary friend but mainly because I felt like that's what you were supposed to do. So I don't think she really did much but I'd mention her every once in a while just cuz. Haha I was a weird kid.</p> <p>And @Mrs. Pen I totally do the conversation thing! I told DH and he thinks it's weird lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-would-youso-feel-about-imaginary-friends#post-427655 Sun, 02 Dec 2012 08:24:20 +0000 regberadaisy 427655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with you even tho I never had one growing up. Being an only girl I pretend played and all that but never the same person. But on the other hand I find it a little creepy too! Bc kids are supposed to see the supernatural so it would make me wonder if it's really a imaginary friend or something else.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-would-youso-feel-about-imaginary-friends#post-427650 Sun, 02 Dec 2012 08:04:56 +0000 singingbee 427650@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ok....found the radio shows link. Go to <a href="http://www.alice1077.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.alice1077.com</a>. Go over to the right side and see where they have podcasting. They still have their Halloween broadcast up. It's under 'wicked Wednesday' part 1 and 2. I don't know if those have any imaginary friend stories on there, but there are plenty other kinds of stories. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-would-youso-feel-about-imaginary-friends#post-427645 Sun, 02 Dec 2012 08:00:53 +0000 singingbee 427645@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cyndistar3: and @Mrs. Pen: yes! It completely freaked me out. I mean, in some of these stories people were sharing, the kids never knew the family members because maybe they had passed away before they were even born or something. It was completely scary to me. </p> <p>@Arden: the stories I'm talking about involve family members that were not even alive before the kids that were talking about them were born. They didn't grow the grieving process because they didn't even know them. These were stories people would call in with. I heard more than one about 'imaginary friends' and they totally scared me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-would-youso-feel-about-imaginary-friends#post-427554 Sun, 02 Dec 2012 02:53:53 +0000 Arden 427554@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have a problem with it at all. I also don't have problems with them talking to dead friends as family, as long as they specify that it's pretend, and understand what imaginary means. It might be their way of coping/grieving.</p> <p>If they start insisting they are real however, we'll be sitting down and having a discussion about real vs. imaginary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-would-youso-feel-about-imaginary-friends#post-427551 Sun, 02 Dec 2012 02:43:27 +0000 sorrycharlie 427551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Eek the ghost thing just totally wigged me out!</p> <p>I think generally it's normal but there are instances where it might not be, if it interferes with normal functioning! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-would-youso-feel-about-imaginary-friends#post-427534 Sun, 02 Dec 2012 01:35:36 +0000 cyndistar3 427534@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jennimac: Oh my lanta that is creepy!</p> <p>I think as long as it doesn't get creepy like such it is absolutely fine but the minute I hear her say that they're telling her to do stuff I'm gonna flip! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-would-youso-feel-about-imaginary-friends#post-427530 Sun, 02 Dec 2012 01:28:44 +0000 Mrs. Pen 427530@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jennimac: that's totally freaky! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-would-youso-feel-about-imaginary-friends#post-427504 Sun, 02 Dec 2012 00:37:32 +0000 singingbee 427504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pen: and when they would say it was a dead family member, the parents would ask who they were talking to and sometimes kids would answer, "oh, I'm talking to pawpaw. He said to tell you that everything is okay." Or something equally weird that that kid shouldn't know because maybe they died before that kid ever met them. Weird stuff that the parents them realized the only explanation was their kid's made up friend was a ghost. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-would-youso-feel-about-imaginary-friends#post-427501 Sun, 02 Dec 2012 00:34:50 +0000 singingbee 427501@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pen: it completely freaked me out. It would be more than one story from so many different people! I think some kids do have made up friends, but I think some kids do see ghosts and that's their made up friend. Fwiw, my sisters and I never had any. Of course, we had guaranteed friends with each other. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-would-youso-feel-about-imaginary-friends#post-427499 Sun, 02 Dec 2012 00:32:09 +0000 Mrs. Pen 427499@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jennimac: um that's totally freaky and I think that situations like that would be indicative of a deeper emotional or psychological problem. There is a difference between a disorder and child play I think. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-would-youso-feel-about-imaginary-friends#post-427496 Sun, 02 Dec 2012 00:27:49 +0000 singingbee 427496@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, seeing as there is this local radio station that does Thriller Thursdays in October and there a TON of people who called about how their kids would have imaginary Friends and how they would talk to them. Then they would start telling them scary stuff that their 'friend' wanted them to do or they would tell them that their friend was a dead family member. Totally freaked me out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-would-youso-feel-about-imaginary-friends#post-427493 Sun, 02 Dec 2012 00:17:05 +0000 SAHM0811 427493@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD 1 has one... since she turned 4, I'd say. She doesn't talk *to* her friend, just talks *about* her. We don't mind or think it's weird. I think it's a good way for her to tell stories and use her imagination! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-would-youso-feel-about-imaginary-friends#post-427488 Sun, 02 Dec 2012 00:10:19 +0000 HLK208 427488@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not sure how I feel about it. DS has an imaginary friend named Joey. He popped up right after DS turned three. DS only had one friend and then he moved away a year ago, none of my friends or family have children his age so he didn't socialize a lot until preschool :-/ I did take him to the library for story time and to the park but he didn't really know how to play with other children for awhile. So I think his imaginary friend is a result of being lonely.</p> <p>His friend was okay with me until he started blaming everything bad he did on "Joey" haha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-would-youso-feel-about-imaginary-friends#post-427457 Sat, 01 Dec 2012 23:38:07 +0000 anonysquire 427457@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmmm we haven't ever talked about this. I never had an imaginary friend growing up, so am I the minority? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-would-youso-feel-about-imaginary-friends#post-427455 Sat, 01 Dec 2012 23:35:59 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 427455@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was reading the other day about LO's zodiac sign (I don't fully believe in astrology, but it's fun to imagine LO when he's older). It said he might develop imaginary friends because he'll be so social that he'll want a friend to talk to all the time. I am dying for him to actually have one - I think it's a very creative/neat thing for a kid.<br /> Also I loved Drop Dead Fred! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-would-youso-feel-about-imaginary-friends#post-426503 Sat, 01 Dec 2012 00:36:02 +0000 Mrs. Pen 426503@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BoogieBea: hahaha I still talk to myself ALL the time. I even "practice" conversations that I might have or wish I could change. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-would-youso-feel-about-imaginary-friends#post-426500 Sat, 01 Dec 2012 00:32:09 +0000 BoogieBea 426500@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't mind them. I think it's part of their developing imagination. I didn't have any imaginary friends but I did talk to myself a lot. I still do sometimes. So much so that sometimes I don't realize I'm doing it and people think I'm crazy. This is way before cell phones so I was definitely not on a phone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-would-youso-feel-about-imaginary-friends#post-426497 Sat, 01 Dec 2012 00:27:54 +0000 Mrs. Pen 426497@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH just asked me this and I thought it was such a strange question because to me, imaginary friends are a healthy and common part of childhood! I had many imaginary friends from when I was 3-6 years old. My littlest sister as well had a few from 3-5 or 6 as well. I thought nothing of it!</p> <p>But I guess DH views it as not normal and unhealthy! He thinks it's potentially detrimental especially if they think they're actually real! My sister thought one of hers was real and we mostly just played along and she grew out of it. Not a big deal IMO!!</p> <p>How do you or you SO feel about them? </p>