--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the other girls had given up their…" description: "\"When the other girls had given up their Barbies, I was still playing with mine in secret.\" — Cheri Oteri" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/381/cheri-oteri-45812_dolls_when-the-other-girls-had-given-up-their_978947.png" --- # When the other girls had given up their Barbies, I was… ![“When the other girls had given up their Barbies, I was still playing with mine in secret.” quote by Cheri Oteri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/381/cheri-oteri-45812_dolls_when-the-other-girls-had-given-up-their_978947.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/381/cheri-oteri-45812_dolls_when-the-other-girls-had-given-up-their_978947.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/381/cheri-oteri-45812_dolls_when-the-other-girls-had-given-up-their_978947.png) > “When the other girls had given up their Barbies, I was still playing with mine in secret.” [Cheri Oteri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheri-oteri/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Holding onto childhood joys privately can be a source of personal comfort despite peer pressure. **In simple terms:** Secret pleasures sustain individuality. Key Takeaway Honor your unique interests. Themes individuality nostalgia peer pressure self‑acceptance Mood playful reflective Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - creative hobbies - personal branding - mental health - social media Key Concepts identity formation psychology Questions to Reflect On - What hidden passions do you keep? - How can you share them without fear? A Different Perspective Conformity may suppress authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Barbies Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barbies-playing-1930152/) [Dolls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dolls/) [Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl/) [Girls Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girls-given-1930154/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Given Barbies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given-barbies-1930151/) [Had](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/had/) [Mine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mine/) [Other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/other/) [Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing/) [Playing Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-secret-1930153/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Still](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/still/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) ## Related quotes > [“They start setting up on a little left stage playing my secret favorite song: the rustling of sheet music and set lists, the coughing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/they-start-setting-up-on-a-little-left-stage-playing-my-secret/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Young boys and girls should be given the chance to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-podolski/young-boys-and-girls-should-be-given-the-chance-to-play-football/) [Lukas Podolski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-podolski/) > [Far too often, girls are not given the space and opportunities they need to achieve their full potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-guterres/far-too-often-girls-are-not-given-the-space-and-opportunities-they/) [Antonio Guterres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-guterres/) > [We fill the hands and nurseries of our children with all manner of dolls, drums and horses, withdrawing their eyes from the plain face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-fill-the-hands-and-nurseries-of-our-children-with-all-manner-of/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [To his ex-wife in court, he said I lost interest in you when the Botox lost its effect and you looked like a plastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jackson/to-his-ex-wife-in-court-he-said-i-lost-interest-in-you-when-the-botox/) [Peter Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jackson/) > [Cinderella and the prince lived, they say, happily ever after, like two dolls in a museum case never bothered by diapers or dust, never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/cinderella-and-the-prince-lived-they-say-happily-ever-after-like-two/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [And what did you do last night, Dexter? Oh, I played with my dolls while a friend chopped up my sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/and-what-did-you-do-last-night-dexter-oh-i-played-with-my-dolls-while/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [If I really like the smell of something - a piece of tar or my goddaughter's plastic doll - I put a tiny piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mika/if-i-really-like-the-smell-of-something-a-piece-of-tar-or-my/) [Mika](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mika/) > [People have a different idea of how movies are made than they really are. On a certain level, everyone throws ideas into the hopper.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/people-have-a-different-idea-of-how-movies-are-made-than-they-really/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [Now a doll found naked in a ditch eyes rusted open, is blasphemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-digges/now-a-doll-found-naked-in-a-ditch-eyes-rusted-open-is-blasphemy/) [Deborah Digges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-digges/) > [I will try to make a doll of Oksana with a little dog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oksana-baiul/i-will-try-to-make-a-doll-of-oksana-with-a-little-dog/) [Oksana Baiul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oksana-baiul/) > [I always loved putting on shows - when you're the youngest of seven and five are older sisters, you've got to get noticed somehow!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wenham/i-always-loved-putting-on-shows-when-you-re-the-youngest-of-seven-and/) [David Wenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wenham/) > [I would ask my mum to feed my dolls and make sure they were tucked in when I went to school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-rankin/i-would-ask-my-mum-to-feed-my-dolls-and-make-sure-they-were-tucked-in/) [Gayle Rankin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-rankin/) > [I have a twelve year old sex doll. Brand new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-a-twelve-year-old-sex-doll-brand-new/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [I used to cut out paper dolls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/i-used-to-cut-out-paper-dolls/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) ## More by Cheri Oteri > [When I go to parties, there's a moment when I think, 'I really don't belong here.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheri-oteri/when-i-go-to-parties-there-s-a-moment-when-i-think-i-really-don-t/) [Cheri Oteri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheri-oteri/) > [When a man says he wants to meet a girl with a sense of humor, he means one who will laugh at everything he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheri-oteri/when-a-man-says-he-wants-to-meet-a-girl-with-a-sense-of-humor-he/) [Cheri Oteri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheri-oteri/) > [The funny thing is, I was never purposely blonde. I just got highlights, and then you get highlights over highlights, and then it looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheri-oteri/the-funny-thing-is-i-was-never-purposely-blonde-i-just-got-highlights/) [Cheri Oteri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheri-oteri/) > [ Chris \[Kattan\] and Will \[Ferrell\] and I all went out – I don’t want to say where, because it’s a famous restaurant and it’s… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheri-oteri/chris-kattan-and-will-ferrell-and-i-all-went-out-i-don-t-want-to-say/) [Cheri Oteri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheri-oteri/) > [The makeup person said oh my God what happened to you? I looked like I was in a car accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheri-oteri/the-makeup-person-said-oh-my-god-what-happened-to-you-i-looked-like-i/) [Cheri Oteri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheri-oteri/) > [My sister really drooled a lot when she was younger. For her wedding, I was going to get her one of those lace drool…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheri-oteri/my-sister-really-drooled-a-lot-when-she-was-younger-for-her-wedding-i/) [Cheri Oteri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheri-oteri/) > [I grew up pretty much entertaining myself. So I know what its like to be in a room by myself and having fun with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheri-oteri/i-grew-up-pretty-much-entertaining-myself-so-i-know-what-its-like-to/) [Cheri Oteri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheri-oteri/) > [My sister could fall asleep at the drop of a hat. She would fall asleep on the train. Me, I never slept. Still. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheri-oteri/my-sister-could-fall-asleep-at-the-drop-of-a-hat-she-would-fall/) [Cheri Oteri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheri-oteri/) [Explore all 9 Cheri Oteri quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheri-oteri/) ## More Dolls quotes > [I used to cut out paper dolls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/i-used-to-cut-out-paper-dolls/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [I have a twelve year old sex doll. Brand new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-a-twelve-year-old-sex-doll-brand-new/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [I would ask my mum to feed my dolls and make sure they were tucked in when I went to school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-rankin/i-would-ask-my-mum-to-feed-my-dolls-and-make-sure-they-were-tucked-in/) [Gayle Rankin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-rankin/) > [I always loved putting on shows - when you're the youngest of seven and five are older sisters, you've got to get noticed somehow!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wenham/i-always-loved-putting-on-shows-when-you-re-the-youngest-of-seven-and/) [David Wenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wenham/) > [I will try to make a doll of Oksana with a little dog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oksana-baiul/i-will-try-to-make-a-doll-of-oksana-with-a-little-dog/) [Oksana Baiul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oksana-baiul/) > [Now a doll found naked in a ditch eyes rusted open, is blasphemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-digges/now-a-doll-found-naked-in-a-ditch-eyes-rusted-open-is-blasphemy/) [Deborah Digges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-digges/) > [People have a different idea of how movies are made than they really are. On a certain level, everyone throws ideas into the hopper.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/people-have-a-different-idea-of-how-movies-are-made-than-they-really/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [If I really like the smell of something - a piece of tar or my goddaughter's plastic doll - I put a tiny piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mika/if-i-really-like-the-smell-of-something-a-piece-of-tar-or-my/) [Mika](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mika/) > [And what did you do last night, Dexter? Oh, I played with my dolls while a friend chopped up my sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/and-what-did-you-do-last-night-dexter-oh-i-played-with-my-dolls-while/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [Cinderella and the prince lived, they say, happily ever after, like two dolls in a museum case never bothered by diapers or dust, never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/cinderella-and-the-prince-lived-they-say-happily-ever-after-like-two/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [To his ex-wife in court, he said I lost interest in you when the Botox lost its effect and you looked like a plastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jackson/to-his-ex-wife-in-court-he-said-i-lost-interest-in-you-when-the-botox/) [Peter Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jackson/) > [We fill the hands and nurseries of our children with all manner of dolls, drums and horses, withdrawing their eyes from the plain face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-fill-the-hands-and-nurseries-of-our-children-with-all-manner-of/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I'd never been turned on by the Ken doll—even before I looked down his pants and saw what was missing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/i-d-never-been-turned-on-by-the-ken-doll-even-before-i-looked-down/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“I make paper dolls with deep personal issues.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-m-law/i-make-paper-dolls-with-deep-personal-issues/) [Polly M. Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-m-law/) > [I've had a lifelong love affair with makeup. When I was a little girl, I used to take my mother's makeup and paint all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobbi-brown/i-ve-had-a-lifelong-love-affair-with-makeup-when-i-was-a-little-girl/) [Bobbi Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobbi-brown/) [Browse all 467 Dolls quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dolls/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When the other girls had given up their Barbies, I was still playing with mine in secret.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cheri Oteri" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheri-oteri/when-the-other-girls-had-given-up-their-barbies-i-was-still-playing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dolls" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheri-oteri/when-the-other-girls-had-given-up-their-barbies-i-was-still-playing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/381/cheri-oteri-45812_dolls_when-the-other-girls-had-given-up-their_978947.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/381/cheri-oteri-45812_dolls_when-the-other-girls-had-given-up-their_978947.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/381/cheri-oteri-45812_dolls_when-the-other-girls-had-given-up-their_978947.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When the other girls had given up their Barbies, I was still playing with mine in secret.” — Cheri Oteri", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Cheri Oteri", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheri-oteri/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When the other girls had given...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheri-oteri/when-the-other-girls-had-given-up-their-barbies-i-was-still-playing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheri-oteri/when-the-other-girls-had-given-up-their-barbies-i-was-still-playing/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```