Gilly the monster racked up fans online. What was going on? By Alison Weaver, 47
After putting away the laundry, I let out a big sigh.
‘It’s been a long
day,’ I said to my son, Christopher, 10.
He was holding his toy monster, Gilly.
I’d first seen Gilly online and had adored his big googly eyes and crooked smile, so I’d bought him, and now all I wanted was to sink my face into Gilly’s fluffy blue fur.
Somehow, giving him a hug made me feel better.
I held him out in front of me and had him do a little dance for Christopher.
‘Did you do your homework today?’ I said, putting on a squeaky, high-pitched voice.
Christopher burst out laughing.
A few days later, I asked if Christopher wanted to bring Gilly down for dinner.
‘Who’s this joining us?’ asked my husband, Brian.
‘Gilly’s a member of the family!’ I joked.
Over the next few months, Gilly took turns cheering us all up. He even took on his own personality.
‘I know it’s you behind him, but he just feels so real!’ my sister said.
‘He’s my emotional support monster,’ I confessed. ‘I’ve even started bringing him
to work!’
Pretty soon, all my friends and family knew Gilly.
'He just feels so real!'
‘I never have him to myself any more,’ Christopher said.
So I bought everyone in the family their own Gilly, although the original was the only one who could ‘talk’.
We all started buying dolls’ clothes for him, including a mini tuxedo. That way he could join us for formal occasions — and he even had his own seat at my cousin’s wedding!
We’d had Gilly for five years when Christopher made a suggestion.
‘You should try making a YouTube channel for him,’ he said. ‘He’s so good at making people happy.’
‘You’ll need to show me how to do it,’ I replied.
Luckily, Christopher had his own gaming channel, so he showed me the ropes.
For Gilly’s first few videos, we filmed him horse riding, at an ice-cream parlour, and enjoying a day at the beach.
He chatted away to the camera, bobbing happily up and down.
As I made more videos, I got more confident.
In one of my favourites, we showed Gilly how to use an old rotary phone at my parents’ house.
‘But how do you send a text?’ Gilly said and the kids laughed.
Our videos were a hit.
I’m suffering from depression and watching Gilly is the only thing that made me smile today, someone posted online.
Our little monster was such a comfort to my family, it felt wonderful to know he could help other people, too.
Five years after starting our YouTube channel, we began working with the Yellow Band Project as a kindness ambassador.
The project was founded with the goal of spreading joy through everyday acts of kindness.
Now, if we’re out and about, Gilly hands out yellow bands to anyone he thinks looks like they need a smile.
These days, we have 500 subscribers on YouTube.
When I bought my son
a cuddly toy, I had no
idea he’d go on to be an emotional support to so many people.
Gilly may be a little monster, but he’s a little treasure, too!
• To see Gilly share the love, go to YouTube and search ‘Gilly The Monster’.