Yesterday the summer officially came to an end when I dropped Toodie off for her first day of First Grade. As an overly emotional parent I had the expected feelings of excitement, fear, and a hint of sadness. I was going to miss hanging out with my little person all day. I knew the house was going to be extremely quiet without her giggles and endless energy. It always takes me a while to get back into the swing of things the first week or two. After last year I have learned it’s perfectly natural to twiddle my thumbs while counting the hours until I can pick her up, kiss that little face off, and ask a million questions about what she did in class. Of course, she still looks at me like I am crazy but I can’t help but act as if she was away for months. We’ve kind of become attached at the hip as she has gotten older. I know it won’t always be this way so I am savoring every moment before she becomes a teenager and wants nothing to do with me!
Even though I was having a minor panic attack watching my mini-me begin a new adventure, I wasn’t the only one suffering from first day jitters. Toodie had a moment of her own when reality sat in that she would be spending the day with a new teacher in an unfamiliar classroom. It’s times like these in which hugs, kisses, and encouraging words just don’t cut it for a sensitive six year old like my own. But do you know what does? A soft cuddly Snuggle Bear that never gets tired of creating memories.
Since Toodie always has some form of a fluff filled friend attached to her hip I knew a teddy bear would bring a smile to her face while making the back to school blues fade away. After all, National Teddy Bear day is just around the corner and you can never have too many cuddly friends. She wasted no time in adding personal touches to her new friend. After spending the morning thinking of a name and accessorizing, first day jitters faded away before we even made it to the car.
A Snuggle Bear can make the biggest difference to someone who is in the need of a hug, smile, or a friend to listen. While “Barry” the bear helped turn Toodie’s first day of school into a memorable experience, a special occasion isn’t needed to give the gift of snuggles to someone you care for. If your child is anything like mine they may have a closet full of random stuffed animals. As parents we may think that they are all the same but if you ask your child I can guarantee they have formed a special bond with each and every one of them.
When I was a little girl I had a stuffed animal named “Boo Boo Kitty” that I carried it around until it was ripping at the seams. Years later, at the age of six, I received a teddy bear I called “Ragz” after I had my tonsils removed. To do this day Ragz remains my own snuggle bear and I keep her safely hidden in my closet! Regardless of what age you are, everyone has a stuffed animal that they have grown fond of over the years.
To prepare for National Teddy Bear Day, Snuggle is launching the #ShareABear movement to show the world that something as small as gifting a teddy bear can brighten one’s day. Snuggle Bear will be donating teddy bears to people who need them most but they can only spread the teddy bear magic so far. Snuggle is asking fans to share their favorite teddy bear memories through photos, stories, and videos the entire month of SeptemBEAR. During the month of September Snuggle is donating 5,000 teddy bears to children in need!
Make the world a softer place and give someone you love a snuggle bear!
I was making teddy bears to give away, I still have one to give away. That first day of school is hard for both mom and child – you need a teddy bear, too!
What a great way to cheer up kids by donating these really cute teddy bears to kids that need it. Your daughter is so cute on her first day of school! I hope she is liking school and doing good and making friends.