My parents have given each of our children their first teddy bear. They started the tradition with Isaac; actually, he got two bears, a traditional brown bear and a modern Kaloo bear, now referred to as crocodile bear. They came to stay with us the day after Isaac was born and drove into town especially to buy his first bear. So it was just natural that they'd bring a teddy for Anna and Samuel when they arrived.
Isaac's teddy wears a fireman outfit these days and has recently been to school because they're looking at bears this term. Anna's teddy is supposed to wear a jaunty little necktie but you're more likely to find it around Isaac's neck than teddy's. Samuel's teddy sits in the corner of his cot and gets chewed on regularly.
I still have my first teddy bear; he's a bit thread-bare now but he sits on the top of my bed and gets mauled occasionally by well-meaning children. He sat on a bookshelf above my bunkbed at home then moved to university with me. He has no name but he's so precious to me. He has always had a place in our bedroom and I think he always will.
I'm glad that my children have their own family heirlooms and I'm looking forward to hearing them tell their stories to their own children one day.
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