It was Winnie the Pooh’s 100th birthday, and we spent a recent March evening celebrating A.A. Milne’s wonderful creation and E.H. Shepherd’s evocative images from the Hundred Acre Wood. Our discussions revealed just how many different discussions there were to be had around our memories of childhoods past and present with this wonderful bear and his friends. Treasured books and pictures were shared as well as a few very loved Pooh Bears.
We learned how the real Christopher Robin was horribly bullied at school and taunted by the “Vespers” poem, which shows him saying his prayers by his bed. The real Christopher Robin worked hard to distance himself from his fictionalized self, refusing to take any of the royalties made off his likeness, but eventually reconciled himself with the works later in life.
“It was….the one work that has brought me over the years more toe-curling, fist-clenching, lip-biting embarrassment than any other.
We were not wholly surprised to discover that the characters can be interpreted as representations of various neurodivergent traits and mental health conditions! We all had our favourite characters but had new insights into their complexities: Pooh (OCD?); Piglet (GAD?); Tigger (ADHD?): Eeyore (depression?); Roo (SAD?). Well, maybe going a bit too far, but we loved them all the same!
And whether it is the original stories and poems or the beautifully created Disney characters, Pooh, Piglet and friends still delight us, our children and grandchildren today.