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Original poster

Would this be a good birthday present or would IBU?

18 replies

SchooledUp · 15/07/2019 19:13

Had an idea to make a big photobook/ digital scrap book for dd's 18th birthday (still just over a year away but need time!) with loads of photos of her from 0-18, photos of mementos (as thought a physical scrapbook would be harder as I'm cack handed and it might degrade quicker), notes about things she did at various ages, relevant poems/lyrics etc.

Would be a labour of love more than her main present fwiw, she'd still get something 'presenty' too, but would it be nice or too over the top sentimental? Mentioned it to a friend and she said she didn't think most 18yo's would be that bothered about having something like that and it might be OTT.

OP posts:
BubblesBuddy · 15/07/2019 19:15

I would do it if I had time. We put together loads of photos for a screen at DDs 21st birthday bash. You could do it then if it won’t be appreciated right now.

MrsGrindah · 15/07/2019 19:20

Honestly? Mine wouldn’t have appreciated it at that age. It’s more for later life I think...when there’s more things to remember! It’s a kind though but I think you risk her being underwhelmed.

Soola · 15/07/2019 19:22

Mine wouldn’t have been remotely interested, certainly not as a major birthday present.

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hidinginthenightgarden · 15/07/2019 19:23

My experience is that at that age I rarely looked back at photos. Now as a parent I am much more sentimental and would. Not at 18 though.

WhoAreThey · 15/07/2019 19:27

My mum did this for me at 18 and I loved it BUT I wasn't a teenager who liked drinking/clubbing etc I was very much a home bird and have always loved photos

OKBobble · 15/07/2019 19:28

I think it is a lovely idea. They may not appreciate it for what it is or they may. Either way they probably would look back it at some time and it would mean more to them that you had done it for them rather than them doing it at a later stage.

Bluetrews25 · 15/07/2019 19:43

I think that YOU would love this, OP, (lots of memories of your growing baby) but DD would be less interested.

tokywoky · 15/07/2019 20:30

I would recommend doing this for a wedding present or when she starts her own family. I think that is where the appreciation for memories comes in rather than now.

Morticiaismystyleicon · 15/07/2019 22:03

As long as it's something she could keep (physical photobook rather than an entirely online one) I think it's a lovely idea. My DM bought me a random angel thing, tiny little statue with my birth stone and a tag about health, wealth and happiness that I liked and kept but wasn't particularly sentimental for my 18th. She was diagnosed with cancer and died 4 months before my 22nd birthday and now that odd little trinket is very important to me, she chose it for me when she was well and thought she'd be around forever, it was a gift she'd given me without knowing she'd leave that showed me she had that sentimentality that I now have. If I had a book of her love for me it wouldn't matter whether she'd died or not, I'd look at it occasionally with my kids (who my dm never even nearly met) and have a little reminder of who I was as a child and to pass that on to them.

themartinipolice · 15/07/2019 22:12

My mum did something similar for me on my 18th and I loved it. It's one of my most precious possessions, especially as she's not here anymore. Do it - even if she doesnt fully appreciate it right now, she will in the future.

BlythesEyes · 15/07/2019 22:33

My Dh did this for me for valentine's day..it started from when we met and chronicled our time together. I was sobbing!
Not sure my 18 year old would appreciate it it yet though.

ExpletiveDelighted · 15/07/2019 22:38

I think photos including those of keepsakes yes, but poems, lyrics, memories of her etc might be a bit cringey, I'd have hated that at 18 and still wouldn't love it now in my 50s. Just photos would be fine though.

notso · 15/07/2019 22:44

My DD loved looking through the box of photographs, drawings etc we'd put together for her eighteenth.

MyNewBearTotoro · 15/07/2019 22:47

I think it’s a lovely idea, I would have appreciated this at 18. And it’s the sort of thing which will likely become more cherished over time too.

BogglesGoggles · 15/07/2019 22:50

If my mother had done that I would have binned it. If my father had done that I would probably never actually look at it except when he wanted to.

BogglesGoggles · 15/07/2019 22:51

I would be more pleased with real photographs tbh

OhEliza · 15/07/2019 22:56

My DM did this for my 21st, and I'm afraid to say I've not looked at it since.

We get on very well, happy childhood ect... I just don't really care about the pics.

So don't do it if you would be hurt with that kind of reaction.

BackforGood · 15/07/2019 23:04

Another who thinks it is a lovely idea.
As others have said, even those who didn't really appreciate it as much as they might, at the time, would unearth it one day and really, really appreciate something like that.

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