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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Husband refuses to keep sentimental items for our children

522 replies

Kitkat189 · 16/11/2023 12:37

I recently did a big clear out at home and finally got around to creating little memory boxes for my children, with things like their christening gowns, first haircut, hospital id badges, ultrasound pictures, one or two special outfits - you get the idea. One of my daughters joined in and added a few items which are special to her (leavers shirt from school, acceptance letter to secondary). I laundered, ironed, mended, ordered acid free tissue paper to wrap clothing in, tied with ribbons blah blah. The boxes were purchased from a company which specialises in keepsake boxes. About 45x30 cm so slightly larger than a big shoebox

husband was so annoyed with how much space these boxes took up and wanted them
gone. He doesn’t see any point to keeping any of this. All he had to say was ‘I would never have bought those [boxes]’.

I feel ridiculously hurt by this. We’ve kept an absolute minimum of baby things over the years, husband took everything straight to oxfam as soon as he could and we only kept a few special items. I just wanted some memories for my children for when they leave home. Something tangible to remember their childhood. Husbands parents never did this for him, maybe that’s why he is so unsentimental.

This morning was spent emptying the boxes and putting a few of the things in a small bin bag which can fit under one of the children’s beds. All the carefully wrapped clothes and christening gowns are just lying around now, soon to be disposed of I assume.

Help me get over this. I don’t know why I am so attached to these things and why I feel so upset, he feels differently about these things and I should be able to accept it but I can’t!!

OP posts:
ImCamembertTheBigCheese · 16/11/2023 13:20

crumpet · 16/11/2023 12:39

Why do you have to do what he wanted? Do you and the dc not get a say?

Exactly what I was thinking.

nottaotter · 16/11/2023 13:21

What !? That is such a nice pretty normal thing that you did, keeping only the most special stuff is surely not taking up that much room?

If someone was keeping most baby clothes, all toddlers paintings, duplicate photos etc them that might be a bit too cluttered, but a keepsake box is completely different.

I don't have kids and I don't like clutter but I keep photos and some bits and bobs that all fit in one average size plastic storage crate, but when you have children I think its acceptable to keep more things, please don't let him get rid of christening gowns!

Planesmistakenforstars · 16/11/2023 13:21

OP I am the least sentimental person I know. I don't keep anything, I have no keepsakes. I never take pictures (not deliberately, things like that just don't occur to me.) I think I've accidentally thrown out the only picture of my dead mum I had, which my sister had printed for me, and I'm not upset about it. Just to give you an idea of where I'm coming from. Your husband is a total raging arsehole. Bin him and not the gowns.

RosesAndHellebores · 16/11/2023 13:21

This has to be about more than the memory boxes.

I'd be putting his controlling psyche in the bin along with him.

OneMorePlant · 16/11/2023 13:21

I voted you are being unreasonable because you are being a pushover.

This is obviously important to you and your child also added to the box.

Why are you letting this man throw away your children's things? Why are you acting like you just have to deal?

This is for your children. Will you let him do things that will hurt your children's feelings when he wants things a certain way? Woman up.

WinkyTinky · 16/11/2023 13:22

OMG!!!! Keep the things you want to eat! How dare he throw important things away?! I'm furious on your behalf. My dh threw away a lovely thing my youngest had made for a school competition, and I still feel the sadness of losing it and the anger at him for being so thoughtless.

Husband in the bin! That's what I say.

twinmum2007 · 16/11/2023 13:22

Too much space? How many children do you have? Surely a bin bag takes up almost as much space as a shoebox? This is bonkers

BrassOlive · 16/11/2023 13:23

What would happen if you put all the stuff back and firmly told him the boxes are staying?

ChampagneLassie · 16/11/2023 13:23

Why aren’t you keeping them?

Nicole1111 · 16/11/2023 13:23

What’s unreasonable is allowing your husband to be the king of the castle when it’s negatively impacting your children!

ChampagneLassie · 16/11/2023 13:23

This is a lovely idea. I’ve never thought of it but a small box is hardly taking up much space.

Stephy1024 · 16/11/2023 13:24

There a little bigger than a shoe box. Hardly taking up much room unless you've got 20 kids. Sod what he thinks. Keep them. I've got them for my kids too. I wouldn't be getting rid of them for nobody.

ChampagneLassie · 16/11/2023 13:24

I think this might be LTB territory he sounds so out of touch with his own family

HollieHobbie · 16/11/2023 13:24

I'd hazard a guess that as @Kitkat189 only posted the once on this thread that it may be a bit of make believe...

babyproblems · 16/11/2023 13:24

Agree with all pp’s that he doesn’t override you.
i personally don’t keep much but I wouldn’t bin dhs stuff that he wanted to keep although I might force him to really question which things as we have no space. X

Bbq1 · 16/11/2023 13:25

Where is Op? Putting all her/dc's belongings back in the boxes, i hope...

Tequilamockinbird · 16/11/2023 13:26

WTF

Put the stuff back in the boxes, and get rid of him

I think you have bigger issues here if he's like this over some baby boxes Sad

Justcallmebebes · 16/11/2023 13:26

I'd have completely ignored him

Okaaaay · 16/11/2023 13:26

How Horrible for you, so sorry. Please wrap it all back up lovingly and put it back in those boxes. He does not get to decide that on his own. Let him have his tantrum but please don’t back down on this - memories of these things are so precious, especially when your DC got involved. I’m so sorry for you and your DC. Horrible behaviour from him.

AgnesX · 16/11/2023 13:27

What skin is it off his nose? Are you really that stuck for space that you can't hide them away?

He sounds like a bit of a shit after you've made all that effort.

Iloveshoes123 · 16/11/2023 13:29

WTF is going on here - why would you take the things out of the boxes?
Can you not take up space in your own house. Is your husband in charge of everything?
I think you have much bigger problems than memory boxes.

MeMySonAnd1 · 16/11/2023 13:30

Is he normally abusive OP? The fact that he can dictate you to dispose of stuff valuable to you and having you and your children obligingly hiding it under beds in bags where they do not annoy your husband describes pretty much a control freak husband and a wife that has been properly trained to obey him regardless.

Gettingbysomehow · 16/11/2023 13:30

I would not allow anyone to tell me I can't have when it comes to things like that. Why didn't you stand up to him? He has no right.

Iloveshoes123 · 16/11/2023 13:31

Help me get over this. I don’t know why I am so attached to these things and why I feel so upset, he feels differently about these things and I should be able to accept it but I can’t!!

You don't need help getting over it - just get rid of him. He sounds like a controlling prick. Are you not allowed to feel differently, why the fuck is it up to him?

Scruffington · 16/11/2023 13:32

He sounds like a cold-hearted prick who seems to think he’s the boss of you.