Can I admit something right now?
Since becoming a parent, I’ve been a little bit – oh, I don’t know – judge-y about the whole American Girl doll craze.
Maybe it’s just that I’m still a little bitter that I missed out as a kid. My aunt Kay gave me the book introducing Kirsten, a pioneer girl from Sweden who immigrates to Minnesota in 1854, when I was about 11…a bit too old to get the accompanying doll, and let’s face it, I don’t think my ultra-frugal mom would have gone for it, anyway.
Instead, I ogled my two-years-younger cousin’s Samantha doll: her impeccable wardrobe, her miniature accessories, her glossy brown hair – and regretted having been born in 1977 instead of, say, 1981.
Or maybe it’s just because, let’s face it, American Girl dolls aren’t cheap. And it seemed to me like the height of indulgent spoiling to buy such an expensive doll for a little kid.
But when I was invited to attend an event at the American Girl Place in Chicago a couple of weeks ago, I thought, “Why not?” I hadn’t been to one of the stores as an adult, and I was curious about the draw that brings mothers and daughters, and grandmothers and granddaughters, and aunts and nieces, through the doors.
I kept my heart and debit card guarded.
And then I walked through the doors. And all that guardedness fell away.
I think this Caroline display might have been the one that put me over the edge. I mean the Regency dress and furniture and tiny little mantel and wee model sailboat?
I managed to keep my wallet closed as I wandered around the store, checked out the salon, and browsed the extensive book collection.
But I admit it: I got emotional, excited, and totally sucked in. It was like being a little girl again, only one with the power to actually buy a doll, if I so chose. And, you know, furniture and clothes and hair accessories too.
After wandering the store, the other bloggers and I headed upstairs to the cafe to hear a presentation from my friend Danielle Smith of Extraordinary Mommy, one of the event’s hosts.
As she began talking about the message of American Girl and what it’s meant to her and her daughters, I glanced over at Lindsey Ferrier, and saw what everyone else was feeling reflected on her (seriously gorgeous) face:
And then Danielle announced that we’d all be getting a surprise gift – a Bitty Baby to give to a special girl in our lives. Which is when the room pretty much exploded:
(the lady with the lovely lavender hair is Morgan Shanahan of The 818.)
Clara’s Bitty Baby – which I got to choose customized to her eye and hair color – arrived the other day, and I was skeptical. She’s only four. Would she really appreciate a $55 baby doll more than a $15 one?
The answer, in short: yes.
She immediately fell in love, and now that I’ve had some time to spend with her Bitty Baby, I can see why. Every detail is perfect and realistic: the baby’s weight and heft, its features, its opening-and-closing eyes.
Clara named her baby “Stars” and has taken very good care of her, as you can see:
I guess I’ve learned a few things during my American Girl awakening.
First, it’s not fair to judge other parents for wanting to do something special for their kids, even if the experience is costly. We all choose to spend our money in different ways and it’s not up to me to decide which is the right way, especially considering I’ve blown money on things other people would consider extremely frivolous.
Second, expense is relative. Yes, a Bitty Baby costs $55. But Clara has a toy box filled to the brim with $10 – $20 dolls and stuffed animals she rarely plays with (in fairness, many were hand-me-downs, but still.)
Having pizza delivered to feed our whole family can cost almost as much.
One of the bigger dolls – complete with an amazing outfit and a book – costs $110. That’s about as much as Jon and I would spend on a night out at a nice restaurant. These dolls can bring a child years of play, imagination and joy. Seems like a fair investment to me.
Yes, American Girl dolls will be out of the financial reach of many families, and that’s unfortunate – but it doesn’t mean the doll isn’t worth the price.
Third, there is definitely more American Girl in our future. Now that I’ve been in the store, I’m hooked. Yes, the dolls, and the books (they are very well written), and the clothes and wee accessories are a huge draw, as are the historic lessons and girl-power messages.
But it’s more than that. American Girl is about becoming a little girl again, if only for a little while. It’s about remembering how it felt to hold a doll, to almost believe she was alive, to imagine a new world for her.
It’s one of the most fun parts of being a parent: getting to re-live a little bit of that childhood excitement through our children’s eyes.
And, in my case, getting to make up, just a little bit, for never getting that Kirsten doll when I was 11.
You know, I’m probably in that same camp you were. It just seems a little over the top….BUT, you said it spot on. What’s there to judge in parents wanting to do something extra special for their little one. Hey, I didn’t think I’d be screaming “truck” and jumping up and down every time I saw a semi, but I donno, it’s become exciting to me now that I have a little man who lights up, ha. And YEP, I’d absolutely think splurging on special things is so much more worthwhile that all the little things here and there that are thrown off to the side. Those are the things that really add up. That photo of Clara is too precious! <3. Have fun on your next visit. I kiiiinda hope I get to visit one day too. I’m sure I’d be jumping up and down, ha. Play is fun, isn’t it.
Play IS so fun. And it’s easy to forget that when you’re a grown-up!
We’re an American Girl family, because — despite the expense — it’s a toy that kind of aligns with our values. (That said, I do still find myself getting judge-y of families who buy multiple $110 dolls which still isn’t fair).
But what I love, besides the magic of the accessories and the (truly) high quality dolls is the stories that accompany the historical dolls. We’ve tackled slavery and the revolutionary war and some other pretty tough topics not just in a clinical “this is what happened a long time ago” way but in a way that actually grabs my girls’ attention because these things happened to the characters they’ve already fallen in love with.
Sometimes their dolls are relegated to the foot of the bed or the closet, but then they pull them back out and the play begins again. I’m going to be sad when my oldest stops playing!
Mandi, yes! The historical aspect is huge to me, and the books are so high quality. My Kirsten book was one of my favorites, right next to the Little House books and other books on pioneer life.
Stop, stop, stop! You’re making me wish I had a daughter! Seriously, though, I’m glad you were able to have this experience.
Might want to read the book “Cinderella Ate My Daughter” for alternate view point on the dolls. Although clearly one nice doll is reasonable for every little girl. It’s the multiple outfits, salon/restaurant that start to change my mind.
I remember reading quite a bit about that book when it came out, Jen. I think anything – AG, Barbie, Disney princess merchandise, etc – can be taken to the extreme, for sure…but that’s not likely to happen in our house. We don’t have the budget for it, for one thing.
When I was a little girl I had maybe 5 My Little Ponies and three or four Barbie dolls, collected over several years (I played with dolls until I was pretty old – ten or eleven, at least). Friends of mine had boxes and boxes of them, every single new one as soon as it came out and all the accessories, clothes, etc. Even as a little kid I remember thinking that I enjoyed my small collection of ponies and Barbies just as much as, maybe more than, the other girls enjoyed their enormous ones. I am grateful to my parents for keeping those purchases under control…I really think it helped me to appreciate and be grateful for what I had. It’s a lesson I’m trying to keep in mind as I parent a little girl (since it would be way easy for me to go overboard with all the girly stuff!)
In reviewing the summary of the book, I don’t understand what the “other view” of AG dolls are. The historical dolls are one of those safe toys meant for girls aged 8 and up that do not care about beauty or looks or that sexualization our children. They encourage girls to read and give them role models. They have modern girls who respond to current issues before our girls in very mature ways and tell about historical stories where girls were required to do a lot more, including telling about child labor, and where girls stepped up and made a difference around them. I’ve read most of the books with my girls, and love the fact that one of the dolls is basically our family heritage.
If the book discusses AG because some people don’t use moderation, the fault does not lie in the fact that a store sells dolls with lots of outfits, but lies in the fact that the purchaser does not use moderation in any purchases-this is not a trait that would be exclusive to just AG stores.
I’m with you on the whole born too early thing. That was me eyeing my younger cousin’s Samantha doll.
My husband did not want to give our oldest an American Girl doll because he thought it was too extravagant. That kid asked for Lanie (2010’s Doll of the Year) almost every day for a year. I broke down and bought it at the NYC store during Blogher’10. Today, Lanie is dressed and cared for every day and slept with each night ever since the day she came home in August 2010. Totally worth every penny!
I went to that event and got teary too. AG is big in our house but not over the top. We love the wholesomeness and hours of imaginative play it provides. My 3 year old is getting the Bitty Baby Sunday for her birthday. I can’t wait!
I’m all for buying a quality doll that brings years of joy and imagination.
However, I’d much rather spend $110 on a handmade, Waldorf style doll, made with natural materials, by a small company or even a work at home mom, where you can still get all the clothes you can buy or make, than support another HUGE company with questionable business practices and products of non-renewable materials.
I’m glad it works for you, but I can’t stand the place.
Dang, I really want one of these dolls. How can I convince my 10 and 8 year old sons to get one?
I definitely think it’s all relative- would we bat an eye at spending that much on a Lego set for the boys? Nope. I admit that I didn’t really pay attention to the American Girl thing until Ivy showed interest and then I was definitely more than a teensy bit thrilled and have so much fun leafing through the catalogs with her.
Steph
YEP! You read my mind – I was going to comment that anyone who thinks the AG are extravagent hasn’t been to the Lego Store or read a Lego catalog.
TOTALLY true. Our boys have gotten very costly LEGO sets for Christmas a few times, and we’ve always justified it because they can share them
but really when you add up all the money we’ve spent on LEGO over the years…
My friend – this makes me as teary as the experience that night. I did not experience American Girl as a child. I was too old by the time the dolls were introduced and I suspect we wouldn’t have been able to afford them
My mother-in-law – a true doll lover – introduced them in to our home when Delaney was very little. As you know, my small girl is a true tomboy and AG is the one ‘girly’ thing that has ever mattered to her. She rotates softball-basketball-soccer-reading and her American Girls.
As was mentioned in the comments above, the books and the historical stories have played such a huge part in the conversations Delaney and I have had. It is a treasure to know she is learning, growing and imagining.
Beyond that, being in that room that night and seeing the emotions that AG evokes for so many – the memories from childhood, the memories with their own daughters – I mean – the GIF! And the picture of Clara – my heart.
Thank you for coming and for sharing this. xoxo
Ahhhhh, this was the best night. And I’m still thanking my lucky stars I WAS born in 1981 — KIRSTEN 4 EVA!
You nailed it…to the outsider, all things American Girl can seem silly and extravagent. But to a girl who loves her doll(s), they are keepsakes that she can cherish for a lifetime. I love that now they have modern accessories that match what girls are involved in now-it makes it so much more personal and sweet.
I am the youngest of three girls. In 1988, we each received one of the original three dolls (Samantha for my oldest sister, Molly for my middle sister, and Kirsten for me). Over the years, I received two more dolls: Felicity and my “look-alike” Lindsey (my look-alike with auburn curly hair and blue eyes). I was 18 when I received Lindsey as a birthday present from my grandma. My seven year old cousin asked me, “You mean you can still get dolls, even when you’re grown up?” and I replied, “Yes! You are never too old for dolls if you love them. Remember that.” So there you go, ladies…go out and by yourself an American Girl, no matter your age.
I completely believe the American Girls and their books are why I love of all things US History and why I gobble up historical fiction novels like nobody’s business. I’m so glad there are Bitty Babies for the little ones to love…my two-year-old niece absolutely loves her Bitty Twins. My parents built a special closet to hold all of our American Girls and their things-what a treasure it will be for my niece when she can enjoy it in a few years!
How sweet is Clara with her “Stars”…precious!
P.S. It’s 1854 for Kirsten, not 1954. ?
Ack! Thanks for the catch – of course I knew that, but my fingers betrayed me!
I LOVE these dolls! I managed to not buy one for many years, despite my ODD’s pleading every year at Christmas for the Josephina doll. I had good reason to wait, actually – she has never had much interest in ANY dolls she has, and she isn’t good at taking care of her toys. But finally, I caved. She received Josephina for her 10th Christmas, and loves and cares for her like she does nothing else. We visited the AG store when we were in Chicago last year, and oh my! I could hardly contain myself! I so wish I could get the Caroline doll, with all clothes and accessories for ME. The dolls and stories and all the extras are wonderful, and incredibly worth the money, IMO. I’m a frugal person, but I also think that quality is worth paying for. My YDD will be receiving a Bitty Baby doll for Christmas, with all the accessories and two extra outfits. I got this deal from the Today show a couple of months ago. All this for $60! Score! And my ODD will be getting the Sage doll (current girl of the year) for her 12th birthday in November. She’s been pining for her all year long, and she’ll be gone for good on Dec 31st. Yes, I’m hooked. I won’t go crazy, but I think that as long as my girl’s really love and care for their AG dolls, they are worth the money.
When they retired Felicity, my husband encouraged me to scoop up all of the Elizabeth things that I could. I think I was 42 that year. I keep her in our room and change her outfits reasonably frequently. My daughter is fascinated and we will be getting her one of her own when she’s older.
I love that. You’re never too old for dolls, right? Or doll houses. Which reminds me that I’ve always wanted to build a doll house from scratch, complete with all the little furniture and carpets and curtains…
They started near my hometown in Wisconsin, so I’ve always had a fondness of them. The great thing? My mom gave the Itty Bitty twins to my daughter and my mom was pleased as punch. My sister asked sheepishly — while at the American Girl store at the Mall of America — whether she could buy one for my daughter, knowing the extravagance of a doll. “You’re her aunt. You can do whatever you want.” My (German-born) husband? It was his dream to take our daughter to the American Girl store in Chicago. And he did, on a father-daughter outing. The giddiness of the adults is almost as telling as the happiness of my daughter. The dolls are special. Not only because of the quality or because of the stories, but of the importance people assign to them.
Ah, I love this! I was born in 1989 and grew up a huge fan of American Girl. My daughter is turning one this month and I’ve been looking forward to sharing them with her since before she was born. I’ve been collecting more books at yard sales and bought myself the Caroline collection with my own birthday money – and really enjoyed reading it too! They do such a remarkable job of making history come to life, and are so much more memorable than a textbook lesson
I loved AG. We found out about AG very early on, and it was based out of WI only a few hours from where I grew up. I spend hours longing for the dolls in the catalog, and I loved the story and photo on the back of each catalog about how the founder of AG, Pleasant T. Rowland, had discovered an antique doll and all it’s accessories in an attic somewhere after she had begun work on the AG line. I had a Kimberly doll that was close in size to the AG dolls so I’d pretend she was Kirstin. I got Samantha when I was 10 or 11, which I think was only a little late considering the Ms. Rowland intended for the books and dolls to be introduced at 9. Back then the dolls were made by the Gotz company in Germany. I adored that doll and still have her. I also had a cousin a few years younger, and after my mom introduced my aunt to AG my cousin acquired a couple of dolls and lots of clothes and accessories. I was very jealous.
I was very sad when the company was sold to Mattel and I’ve been unhappy with what has been done with the brand since then. The focus on the Girl of Today line, and the constantly changing (encouraging acquiring) lines of clothing and accessories disappoints me. I feel like the company has drifted far from what it was originally intended to be.
That being said, I fell in love with AG for all the reasons you stated, and if I had a daughter I would definitely buy the historical books and dolls for her. Since I don’t have a daughter, I’ll have to be content with spoiling my niece.
Jennifer, thanks for this comment – I was sad to hear that they are retiring some of the historic lines and focusing more on the “girl of today” dolls, too. I’m not sure how drastically that trend will continue but I’m really hoping they will continue to produce new dolls in the historic line! I think there is room for both kinds of dolls in the line and really don’t want to lose that historic aspect of AG as it’s what appealed to me in the first place, way back when I was a little girl. I also think that the historic dolls are interesting to a larger age range. I’m hoping that a representative from the company will see this comment and take note!
I am a 1981 baby and i don’t remember any of my friends or classmates getting these. However my sister (1986) was a big fan. I read her american girl doll books ( in secret) and loved them. Wish i had had one. My daughter has the Kirsten doll and i like dressing it lol.
I’m a 1980 girl and just missed the boat on AG as a girl, though like others, I still pined after Samantha. My daughter is 4, and I had some of the prejudgements/concerns that you voiced. And you have convinced me to take my daughter to an AG store the very first chance I get!
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