Cabbage Patch Kid Memories

Posted by Debbie on Sep 3, 2008 | 5 Comments

For Christmas 1983, the only thing I wanted from “Santa” was a Cabbage Patch Kid. Just about every kid in America wanted one too, so they were nearly impossible to find in that pre-eBay era.

I remember watching the mob scenes on TV: hordes of parents rushing toy stores, Cabbage Patch Kids being transported in armored cars, a mailman flying to England to buy one for his daughter.  

As my parents went from toy store to toy store searching for an authentic Cabbage Patch Kid, my grandmother took decisive action. After asking lots of friends and even random strangers, she heard about a woman in Georgia who was making “homemade” Cabbage Patch Kids. My grandmother contacted this friend of a friend of a nurse she met at her doctor’s office to order the exact doll I wanted: a blond haired doll with long hair in pigtails wearing a pink dress. 

Shortly before Christmas, my parents found a “real” Cabbage Patch Kid at a local toy store. I was so excited to find that doll under the tree on Christmas morning.

My grandmother arrived at our house for Christmas Dinner carrying that “homemade” Cabbage Patch Kid, wrapped in a real baby blanket. When I answered the door, I thought she’d had a baby. ”No,” she told me, “I didn’t have a baby, but I do have a baby doll for you.” 

I named my doll after my grandmother, so I’m pretty sure I was one of the only kids in America to have a knock-off Cabbage Patch Kid named Ethel.

I treasured both of my Cabbage Patch Kids, and I carried them everywhere. My friends pointed out that “Ethel” wasn’t a “real” Cabbage Patch Kid, and classmates made fun of the name “Ethel.” I didn’t care.  

I still have both of those dolls, and Cabbage Patch Kids are a very real symbol to me of my grandmother’s love. My grandmother has since passed on, but I think of her everytime I see a Cabbage Patch Kid.

The Cabbage Patch Kids are turning 25, and I’m feeling nostalgic. The original Cabbage Patch Kids are back for the first time since 1983. The Limited Edition 25th Anniversary Cabbage Patch Kids were made from the original 1983 molds and have the same faces, clothing and names as the original dolls. You can find them in retail stores for approximately $29.99.  

You can share your own Cabbage Patch memories at www.cabbagepatchkids25.com. And I’d love to hear them too if you can list them in the comments.

Share and Enjoy:
  • E-mail this story to a friend!
  • StumbleUpon
  • del.icio.us
  • Kirtsy
  • TwitThis
  • Bumpzee
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • Sphinn
  • Mixx
  • Google
  • NewsVine
  • Technorati
More in: Dolls, Toys (All Ages), Toys (Pre-School)
Get More Reviews, Contests and Discounts. Subscribe via:
Daily Email Digest | RSS

Other Fabulous Posts:

Leave Your Response

Add your comment below, or trackback from your own site. You can also subscribe to these comments via RSS.

You can use these tags:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

This is a Gravatar-enabled weblog. To get your own globally-recognized-avatar, please register at Gravatar.

  • Michelle said:

    That story is so sweet. You were so lucky to have such a loving grandmother.

    My parents went to a toystore at 5am and got in line to wait for it to open. When the store opened, all the waiting people rushed in. My parents managed to get me a Cabbage Patch Kid…but only a boy doll. I liked it anyway.

    Can you imagine how much people would have paid for these dolls if eBay had been around in 1983!?! Crazy.

    #1 Sep 3, 2008 at 10:14 am
  • Deborah Heerema said:

    All I wanted when I was younger was a ‘real’ cabbage patch kid as well. I never did get one – although one year for Christmas my aunt gave me a boy ‘fake’ cabbage patch kid named Brian. I kept him for years – my dd ended up with him.

    #2 Sep 3, 2008 at 10:24 am
  • Renee said:

    I think I had one of the handmade dolls too! Not sure where it came from, I think there’s a name signed on the butt. I don’t know if we still have it. When my second daughter was born my best friend’s mom sent us a package. In it was my first CPK (she had bought it from a garage sale we had when I was in college). I thought is was so special to have it for my girls.

    #3 Sep 3, 2008 at 4:06 pm
  • mandy said:

    I also received a homemade Cabbage Patch that first Christmas when the real ones were so popular. She was made by an elderly lady that my great grandmother had heard of. The dolls name is Callie. She’s blond and looking tattered after 25 years. I went on to receive 7 “real” Cabbage Patch dolls over the years (even a set of twins). I have no idea what happened to them. But, Callie is still with me after all of these years. Someday, I will have her spruced up and give her to my little toddler.

    #4 Sep 29, 2008 at 11:08 pm
  • Sauni said:

    I had a fake one that my Dad had bought for me named Fritzie. I wish I knew someone who could make them again. My Dad is no longer here so I would love to have that doll back again. If anyone knows anyone who does make them please let me know.

    #5 May 11, 2009 at 11:05 pm