Tonight after dinner on the roof beneath a rainbow sky, my mother played some old videos of the King of Everything. We watched and laughed as this cute, little, little guy did science ’spermints at the kitchen sink. Mom took the video maybe two years ago. I miss that little kid.
When my ex and I split up, he kept the video camera… and all the videos I’d taken of the King of Everything since he was a baby. I haven’t seen them since. Videos of how he used to crawl like lightning to find the vacuum cleaner, crowing with laughter at the growly noise. How he used to love to crinkle up newspaper. How he learned to walk. It’s all there on film somewhere, but I can’t see it. And neither can my son, though he often asks for stories of when he was a baby. I wish we could watch them together.
Consider, if you split up with the father of your child: who gets the memories? Make arrangements to have important memories like these duplicated. I’m sure it would make my son happy to watch his parents in better days.
Hey, divorcesucks. I’m sorry you know what I’m talking about.
Asking for copies of memories is your right, and depending on how your relationship with the ex is, it could be a kind and understanding exchange, or it could be a weapon wielded to make you miserable. In my case, even my son asking to have the videos hasn’t gotten the ex to do anything about it, and from time to time I bring it back up, with lame excuses. Perhaps his girlfriend would be more understanding of it and could intercede for me
Luck to you. Ask if you can pool your photos and videos to be sure each parent has the same set for their children to view, at each household. That way, your kids won’t be looking at two very different sets of memories.
I have pictures of my toddler ever since the hour he was born… I don’t think his father or I ever realized we’d be divorced… And yes it sucks doesn’t it?
I am getting my memory card back, along with all the photos and videos I took. How do I ask him for the photos and videos we had taken on the (then ours) camera? It’s so tough to word it.
Strange but my ex lives nearly 2000 miles from his kids, rarely calls, and never asks for photos or videos….sad I suppose
My ex has been requesting copies of pics on our computer, but frankly, when he is over 2k in arrears on child support, I will not be running to the store to by the flash drive or other media required to do this (we have LOTS of pictures). He has said for almost a year that he would send me something on which to copy the pictures, but has not. Must not be a priority, I guess.
It would have been polite and considerate for your ex to have at least made copies for you.
-Christina
Something similar happened to me, but with prints. For years, Little Elvis’ mom kept most of his baby pictures. It’s taken 6 years, but she finally gave me a book to copy. There may be hope yet for your videos…although the format of video changes so frequently, it may be expensive to duplicate them. Wish you the best on that front.
Your son was crowing with laughter at the growly noise of the vacuum cleaner? I remember my younger sister crying her lounges out and being scared to death when mom used to clean.
And regarding the videos, you clearly should have made some copies!!!