@Bitbang : this is really great but... so expensive, lol.

They all want "just a little box"... and I'm really weak when it's about LEGO.

And sometimes, you just sacrifice yourself : I gave my son The Helm's Deep as christmas gift, and I'm just so jealous (and my daughter will have Benny's spaceship for her birthday *jealous again*)

I have been in the toy store, lego sets in hand for gifts for some kids in the family... And I end up buying myself the same sets, or the slightly better ones...

My two kids had a passing interest in LEGO... my son a lot more when he was younger (he's 15 now), had a few Star Wars, Bionicles, and learned the hard way that even a big PAB cup can't build a garage on a big gray baseplate for all of his cars. My daughter (now 13) would get some pink and purple PABs (no, I didn't tell her that's what she should get), and also got a princess set (I couldn't tell you which one... not the current ones, but like 7 or 8 years ago). A few years ago, on a spring house cleaning, they both gave me all the LEGO they'd collected over the few short years they were interested.

By the time CMFs started, neither one was interested in LEGO, generally speaking, but there were figures they both loved, so my priority when trying to find them was what the kids liked first, but even that wore off and eventually, when we did a big house cleaning last year, they both gave me all the CMFs they had.

So now I'm the only one. My wife thinks it's "cute." Sometimes I'll get together with my daughter and build something... either something big, like a modular, where we can each take a book and build in parallel, or occasionally we do something else (we've been working on an amusement park for like 3 years now... but I can't remember the last time we did anything on it). My wife helps with the modulars, sometimes.

It's all well and good when they have to make a diorama for school, though... then they suddenly appreciate LEGO.

Because of this, people have trouble buying me gift because they all like getting me lego sets but 7 times out of 10, they aren't good sets or ones I wanted or needed.

This is a problem with every hobby (or passing interest). We just don't know people well enough. We don't spend enough time together. I noticed it with my mom... she likes Pandas, so everyone gets her whatever Panda junk they happen to come across... yes, she likes Pandas, she doesn't need (or want) a house full of stuffed ones, or a million Panda figurines, or post cards, shirts, pins, or anything else... she has what she wants, and also like me, she doesn't have the room or desire for all that stuff around the house. Only she knows what she would find interesting anymore. I think she's the reason I became very conscious of this phenomena, and why I generally steer clear of getting people something in their hobby or interests at all, unless I'm absolutely positive they don't have it AND they actually want it.

At this point I wish people just wouldn't try to think they could get me something I don't already have. I'm middle aged, make a good living, and generally buy what I want (eventually) and while I'm not embarrassed about my hobby, it's embarrassing when all they can think of for a present is LEGO. I'm not a one trick pony.

The funny times are when someone buys me a set... like a LOTR set, and is like "did you even know they made LOTR legos?" And I can't get mad because, hey, they just gave me LEGO, but I sometimes want to smack them upside their heads and say "YES! And it's LEGO, not legos!"

Edited January 7, 201510 yr by fred67

It looks like I am pretty lucky! To start: The main reason I buy ant City sets that aren't speedboats or helicopters and the larger Friends sets is so Mum and I can build them. She wants modulars and creator houses too!

Dad is more impressed with the creative aspects but it took a bit more for me to convince him it was a hobby.

My sister and brother-in-law love LEGO. They like gaming, so every LEGO game has a 100% completion. She likes minifigs, he gets the odd sets. Once or twice he has whatsapped pictures of parts he likes as he builds his sets!

Two of my brothers like LEGO, enough that the keyrings are an acceptable gift. They loved the movie.

My other sister likes minifigs but she never builds. Recently she did ask me to build something/ direct some features of the MOC.

Then there's my youngest brothers. One adores LEGO. He likes Xbox a little more now but he was telling me about some cars he wants to MOC.

The youngest likes to have the odd thing. But he has gone full Nintendo, so it is Pokemon, Mario and Zelda related otherwise!

Yep, big family!

Well my wife hates Lego. Hates it.

I think that's down to how much Lego I've bought since I came out of my dark ages.

Our 5 years old girl loves minifigures... whether that's a Friends figure or CMF. We've bought her a few small sets which I've built for her (with her help...ish) but then she's never been that interested in them.

I've got mostly UCS sets on display in my office room at the house... although it's a small house.

I actually got back into Lego building a set that had been busted up that was owned by a little kid that lives next door to my parents. His cousins came round and trashed it and I put it back together from the box image... it was great. I then helped a young relative order his Lego stuff in his room and build some of his sets from the odd instruction book and box image... oddly enough they're all kind of 'growing out' of Lego... which leaves me as the only AFOL in my family... I actually only really know a couple of AFOLs in 'real life' outside of this forum... one of them is lucky enough to have his wife liking Lego but the other is already trying to keep his son interested in Lego as he grows up.

There are 3 people in my household, my 5 year old son loves lego and I end up spending much of my lego time building things with him, one of the reasons I hardly ever finish anything! My wife tolerates it but sometimes loses it if I leave things in a mess (or stands on a piece). She is very supportive of our son playing but I am not certain she fully understands why I am interested, plus why I need so much of it...

Unfortunately i'm the only one. My brother is not exiceted by them anymore, well he's not exicted by anything anymore As for cousins, most of them haven't really ever played with Lego as they were somewhat poor, on the other hand those who used to get a lot ot toys, those ho were pampered, changed totally after becoming 15 year olds. Well, it's still medieval in my country, and a lot of people want do somethings even if they would like, just because it's considered wrong

So, it's only me. Surely i'll be not alone when i'll have my won children.

My ex-girlfriend used to help me with Legos and was pretty interested so i guess there's a chance that when i'll meet a new one, she'll be into Lego as well

5 of my 7 siblings were huge LEGO fans. Most of their enthusiasm has died down except for my youngest sister, who turned 9 recently. My parents struggle to understand why we're still buying more LEGO sets 20 years later. My girlfriend sometimes shakes her head at my obsession, but she's proud of it and tries to jump in when she can.

Edited January 16, 201510 yr by BrickBelt

7 siblings

Wow, that's a pretty huge family I have only one brother and i've been always wondering what it would be like to have a few more and perhaps one sister

I end up using a handful of pieces and tossing the rest in my dump drawer. lol

But... why? So many useful pieces!!

As of currently, I am the only fan in my house. In my family, my little cousin and uncle absolutely love LEGO, but my uncle has "Lord Business syndrome", and he doesn't let my little cousin play with all the Star Wars sets they buy and build. They stay on a shelf until they can be put on display for his home theatre when it's finished. I'm trying to show my little cous' how to be creative with the brick, but as with anything, it's taking a long time for the concept to sink in.

Depends what you consider "fan" They all like LEGO, they support it, but they wouldn't buy it for themselves. My mom started buying the Simpsons minifigs, then I helped her to collect all 16, but she probably would have just bought a random blind bag here and there if I didn't encourage her.

I'm the only who is an AFOL in my family. Most of my siblings and I played with LEGO when younger, but none of them kept it up when they got older.

My husband is not a fan, but accepts my LEGO fandom, and when we got married, he put two minifigs on top of our cake.

I'm the only who is an AFOL in my family. Most of my siblings and I played with LEGO when younger, but none of them kept it up when they got older.

My husband is not a fan, but accepts my LEGO fandom, and when we got married, he put two minifigs on top of our cake.

That's awesome! My girlfriend and I already decided that at our wedding we're putting a bowl of some LEGO bricks at each table so if guests want to they can make some wacky creations and have the photographer photograph them...Maybe we should put a bride and groom minifigure with each set of bricks!

I'm currently the only one with a massive interest. My wife and brother seem to enjoy it a bit. I've given my brother a few small sets and minifigures, he seemed excited. I'd really like for one of them to get involved the way I am.

Edited January 17, 201510 yr by sspeck05

I am the only one who follows LEGO and builds on a regular basis. My son, his wife and me build something each Christmas while dinner is being prepared, but as far as I know that is the only time they build, but they do look forward to the Christmas build. I usually try to have a theme for the Christmas build, a couple of years ago it was Star Wars, 2013 it was LOTR / Hobbit 2014 it was LEGO Movie. I am starting to consider a theme for next year (I like to get sets in the 500 - 700 piece range for the Christmas build).

I am the only one who regularly buys sets or parts, and the only one with LEGO in their Amazon wishlist.

I am the only one, but not alone as my wife and family also enjoy my builds and creations.

Andy D

Edited January 17, 201510 yr by Andy D

That's awesome! My girlfriend and I already decided that at our wedding we're putting a bowl of some LEGO bricks at each table so if guests want to they can make some wacky creations and have the photographer photograph them...Maybe we should put a bride and groom minifigure with each set of bricks!

Are you in NZ by any chance? Because I have a friend getting married this year and she's planning on doing the exact same thing!

Are you in NZ by any chance? Because I have a friend getting married this year and she's planning on doing the exact same thing!

Haha, no...It won't be anytime too soon. It was just something that popped into our heads and we took note of. I wish I was in NZ though!

Edited January 18, 201510 yr by BrickBelt

My son likes the trains, but not building them. His mother is not a LEGO fan, but the issue is complicated. My parents are uncomfortable with my continued interest in it. My friends are all awkward video game dudes. So: yes. And I kinda dislike it sometimes. One of my friend's step-sons is really into it, but he's gearing up for a Dark Age, it seems. Frowns all around.

I'm the only AFOL in my family although I have 2 girls (7&9) and a 4 year old son who love Lego and have been building for years. So much so that the girls breezed through the modular they got for Christmas without any trouble. It's so nice to sit around our table with all of us building :-) or to "play" with my son with his Lego.

My wife has slowly evolved over 13 years to being bemused by an adult playing with a kids toy to being very supportive- especially after seeing how much of an Adult community there is and seeing the Moc's that I make.

I also have a couple of friends who I've had for years who I only realised recently were closet AFOLs I think here are still may people who re embarrassed about it for some reason

I'm likely the only one in my family who buys LEGO or is involved in it to any sort of degree. In fact, a few years ago my parents wanted me to stop buying the stuff and go into a Dark Age, but although I wasn't buying very much at the time, I never stopped buying LEGO, and now I'm buying more than ever now I know there are other people like me and it's definitely not something to be ashamed of. Even my parents are more supportive now, though their excuse for not buying me LEGO now is "I don't know what sets you have nowadays". I don't have a partner or any kids and I don't really know a lot about my family aside from direct relations, so I could be wrong about the first sentence.

But to balance it out I suppose, I now have a few very good friends who are immensely into LEGO (including some who are well-known in the AFOL community), so at least I have people to share the passion with and talk LEGO without getting "What are you talking about?" whenever I say "SNOT brick" or "CCBS"

My family is funny.......my son Lego Stars Wars first, Super Heroes second.......my wife is the oddest of the lot what cute thing takes her fancy and then there is me........city first, Super Heroes second.......oh, equal first MOCing !

I am just now, although my first child is due in 3 weeks time so won't be once they're here, I'll make sure of that! Lol

Edited January 18, 201510 yr by escortmad79

I am the only true Lego fan in my family. I do have a nephew who is kinda into Lego but i'm not sure how long that will last. Everyone else is just simply not interested in Lego what so ever. I'm 18 currently and my parents think i'm growing too old for it and are trying to push me into agreeing of moving all my Lego to the attic but so far i've managed to hold that off. Once I move out I will take my collection with me simply because I don't trust them with my Lego collection when i'm not around and I fear that if I were to move out and not take them with me they will sell it and that would just break my heart.

So yeah, you could say being the only Lego fan in my family is pretty annoying.

Lol, my son don't trust me either about his LEGO collection, but more because he thinks I will take them for me. Which is absolutely true

Go in peace, my son, mom will take care of everything

Edited January 20, 201510 yr by Lady_Scarlett

In my large family there is only my Cousin and I! But we live 2 hours apart and rarely see each other so we talk and discuss Lego online!

I am the only real fan & collector in my family... but my family is quite small.

Edited January 25, 201510 yr by docmikeb