Celebrating 30 years of memories with #CabbagePatchKids #cpk30

I will NEVER forget the time leading up to the holiday season back in 1983……oh boy, this is making me sound old already!

I was in grade three (did I just give my age away?!) and the new trendy toy was the Cabbage Patch Kid! The shelves were filled with these unique looking dolls and it seemed like everyone was getting one.

In fact, I was so desperate to get my hands on one of those dolls, I announced to my parents that I was willing to use ALL (yes, you read that correctly – A.L.L) of my savings in the bank to purchase one of those dolls.

Christmas wasn’t far off and my parents tried their best to convince me that I could ask Santa Claus for a doll or I could place it on my wish list, but I knew that there was no absolute guarantee that I would get one. I remember, for the first time in my life, I was SO excited to get one of these dolls that I HAD to have one right then and there.

I remember the feeling of excitement, jaded with some guilty feelings when I went to the bank and withdrew all of my money.

I remember the looks that my parents gave me in disappointment that I didn’t know how to “save” my money and that I was going to blow it all on a silly doll. But, at the time, getting a Cabbage Patch Kid, that I could call my own was all that mattered to me. I didn’t like disappointing my parents, but this was bigger than that (for me).

I remember taking an inordinate amount of time picking out the perfect doll. I wanted her to have the same colour as my hair so that it looked like I was her Mom. I remember my parents complaining about how long the decision took me, but it didn’t matter, because I needed the perfect doll.

Her name was Samantha. I held on to her birth certificate for years after that, proud as punch that I had purchased her with my own money.

And although there was some underlying guilt, I knew that I had made the right decision for me. Looking back, it really was a good decision. I saved and saved and saved (that whopping $34) for so long and purchased something that I REALLY wanted!

I wish I still had my doll to show and share with my daughter, but unfortunately I do not have it anymore. She must have been sold or donated with the rest of my toys once I had outgrown her.

I am VERY excited, however, that my daughter is now the same age that I was when I purchased my doll and now they are celebrating a come back with their 30th Anniversary dolls!

JAKKS Pacific (the toy brand that makes Cabbage Patch Kids) kicked off the 30th Anniversary of Cabbage Patch Kids with a press conference where they shared a generous $5000 donaction to Make-A-Wish® Canada!

Be sure to follow the JAKKS Pacific Facebook Page for announcements and contests regarding their 30th Annivesary Cabbage Patch Dolls!