Buddy One and the Washing Machine Misadventure
Because every great hero has an origin story… and a patch.
Every kid has that one toy they love a little too hard — the one that’s always nearby, always slightly grubby, and completely irreplaceable.
For Jimmy, that toy is Buddy One — a vintage My Buddy doll we found on Facebook Marketplace back in October 2021.
Buddy came into our lives quietly, tucked under my arm like just another thrifted treasure… but quickly earned full first-name status, bedtime privileges, and a front-row seat in our everyday chaos.
Why Buddy One? Because Jimmy’s uncle — also a Jimmy, once upon a time — had a My Buddy doll too. They were inseparable. And it just felt right that our Jimmy should have the same kind of friend — especially since, at the time, he was working through some big sensory needs (and delivering some pretty fierce hair pulls in the process).
Buddy became his go-to comfort, his co-regulation tool, his squishy, silent partner in crime.
The Suds Heard ‘Round the House
There comes a moment in every toy’s life when their human loves them so much… they get a little crusty. A little well-loved. A little too tactile.
So into the washing machine Buddy went.
And when I pulled him out… my heart sank.
A full split down the back, stuffing exposed, limbs a little twisted, and that “oh no what have I done” realization washing over me faster than the rinse cycle.
That’s when we decided: Buddy One needed backup.
Enter: Buddy Two — just in case there was ever a day one Buddy needed a rest, a repair, or a break from being loved within an inch of his seams.
Enter: Dr. Sister
Before backup could arrive, emergency surgery was performed.
Armed with needle, thread, and a Superman patch, Dr. Sister patched Buddy One up with love and skill (and only minimal side-eye toward me for attempting machine-wash mayhem in the first place).
The result?
Buddy didn’t just survive — he came back stronger. Now, he wears that patch like a badge of honor.
Since then, Buddy has continued to be a daily part of Jimmy’s world.
He goes for car rides:
He rides in the stroller. He listens to stories. He does porch hangs and parking lot naps. Wherever Jimmy goes, Buddy (and now sometimes Buddy Two) is right there beside him.
💛 Why It Matters
It might sound like a silly story — just a doll and some detergent — but for families like ours, these “stuffies” are so much more. They’re sensory tools. Safe friends. Calming rituals in soft fabric form.
Buddy One is love, comfort, routine, and regulation — all in one slightly faded package with a patch on his back and a boy who adores him.
💬 Got a Stuffy Story?
Do you have a beloved doll, bear, or blankie in your household with nine lives and a battle scar or two? Share their story in the comments — or better yet, show us their proudest patch!
Because patched-up toys and unconditional love? That’s our kind of superhero origin story.
