All my years have taught me many things… well, actually, I’ve picked up many hobbies that didn’t last long. Let’s be honest. I’ve tried soap making, cake decorating, screen printing, ceramics, photography, and a few others that disappeared faster than my motivation after week two.

But the hobby that holds the record for most money spent and shortest duration was doll making. It all started in the middle of the pandemic when my daughter and I decided we would make dolls. We immediately began planning what we’d do with our millions once we became famous doll makers.

So of course, we ordered everything, and I mean everything. Double sewing machines, double scissors, double fabric, and enough supplies to start a small doll factory. When everything finally arrived, we got to work. We cut fabric, sewed doll parts, stuffed them, and laughed non-stop. It was going great until we saw our finished dolls.

They were supposed to look like sweet little girls. Instead, they looked like if Gingerbread Man and Chucky had a baby. They were terrifying. And the clothes? I won’t even try to explain.

Right there, our millionaire dreams died, but our laughter didn’t. We packed up the doll-making kit, never to touch it again. But the best part wasn’t the dolls, it was the memories. Every time I think about it, I can still hear my daughter’s laughter echoing through the house, and I realize we didn’t fail at making dolls, we succeeded at making memories. And honestly, that’s worth more than any million-dollar doll.