Kelly White, a 28-year-old from Long Island, has taken an unconventional path to fulfill her dreams of motherhood. Unable to have her own children yet, Kelly has become an “adoptive mom” to a collection of hyper-realistic dolls called “reborns.” While some may question her choice, Kelly sees it as her way of experiencing the nurturing role she has long desired.
Kelly’s journey into the reborn world began last year after watching a YouTube video on doll collections. Initially, she intended to use the dolls as cosplay props. But once she bought her first doll, Jennifer, Kelly found herself increasingly attached. “I got attached to her as if she was an adopted child,” she explains. “Suddenly I was spending money on clothes for her and a bed.”
Since then, Kelly’s collection has grown to eight dolls, each with its own name, personality, and role in her household. The collection includes Jennifer, her first “toddler,” along with Summer, twins Molly and Antony, Ashley, Elizabeth, Michael, and baby Adam. This month, she plans to add another addition, Emily.
For Kelly, the dolls represent an outlet for her maternal instincts, even if it’s unconventional. “I’ve wanted to be a mom since I was eight,” she says. Unable to fulfill that dream yet due to personal circumstances and job struggles, she finds comfort in caring for her reborn dolls. “I’m living my truth of the life I want — as if I was a mom,” she explains.
She has created a daily routine around her dolls, waking up to make them “breakfast,” dressing them, and arranging a movie marathon for their entertainment. By evening, she prepares them for bed, playing lullabies on an ocarina to soothe them. In public, Kelly isn’t shy about taking her dolls on outings, using a double stroller to bring two at a time on excursions to the park or even restaurants.
Her devotion has not come cheap. Kelly estimates she has spent around $2,000 on the dolls, which are kept in cribs around her home. She’s also invested in countless outfits for them, explaining, “I lost count on how many clothes I have bought for them. I’ve spent a couple of thousand dollars on them — it’s very worth it. Taking care of them is comforting.”
Of course, her unique lifestyle choice attracts its share of skeptics and detractors. While online and in-person comments sometimes skew negative, Kelly remains unfazed. “I get some comments like, ‘Women playing with reborn dolls is weird,’ or ‘That’s creepy,’” she acknowledges. “I’m not surprised some people don’t get it.”
While some may see Kelly’s commitment as unusual, she sees it as a practical way to keep her nurturing instincts alive until she can pursue real adoption or motherhood.
