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My nephew asked me why my old toy truck had a dent and it made me think
I was helping my sister move in Akron and found my old metal Tonka dump truck in her basement. My 6 year old nephew, Leo, picked it up and pointed right at a big dent on the hood. He asked, 'Uncle Ivan, why is it broken?' I told him that wasn't a break, that was from the time I tried to see if it could carry a real brick from the garden. It obviously couldn't, and the hood got smashed. But I kept playing with it for years after that! It hit me that the dent was part of the story, and that made it more fun, not less. Now I look at that beat up truck and smile instead of seeing a broken toy. Has anyone else found that the 'flaws' in an old toy are what make it special now?
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angela_carter6mo ago
Remember my sister's old teddy bear missing an eye? She said a puppy got it when she was four. That lopsided face gave it way more personality than any store-bought one. Who wants a perfect bear anyway, it's got no story to tell.
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torres.leo7mo ago
You tried to carry a real brick with it? That's the most kid logic thing I've ever heard. The dent proves you actually played with the thing. A perfect toy just sat on a shelf.
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oliver_fisher7mo ago
Oh man, that reminds me of my buddy's old toy dump truck. He was so proud of that thing, he tried to load it with rocks from the garden to be "realistic." The whole bed bent right out of shape. @torres.leo is totally right, the dents and scratches are the proof you loved it. A perfect toy is just a sad decoration. That busted truck was his favorite for years after.
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