Thursday, January 8















This will probably turn out to be one of my most treasured presents - ever. One of my granddaughters made this photo frame for me. She cut up some old, duplicate photos to paste heads of herself and her two brothers, but her little sister only got one tiny picture down in the right corner. She interspersed them with polka dots of glue that had glittery bits in it. It doesn't show up here, but on my desk, it sparkles like tiny diamonds. I love it, but there's a sad, sad note to it.

Her mom told me that what she used to make this frame was photos of them with their father; the idiot who has only come to see them once or twice in the last 5 years. She decided she didn't want those photos any longer, even though her mom had saved them for all the children so they'd have pictures of him. I find it incredibly sad that any child is put in that position, and I completely understand why the children do not want to think about him anymore (I don't either.) I know that there will come a time when they will get curious about him, and so I have a whole manila folder of photos from happier times to give them when they are older, if they ask.

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On a lighter note, last night I put the Christmas stuff away and today I cleaned the living room, including all the bookshelves. If you have seen photos of that room, you'll know how involved that is! I had told myself I needed to thin out the knick-knacks (sp?) and I removed about 6 things (which is a drop in the bucket), and moved some of the photos around. Whew. Tomorrow I tackle the bathrooms. Phew.

24 comments:

Kay Dennison said...

Love the frame!!! Sorry about your former son-in-law -- he's the one who's losing!

And aren't you a good girl?!!!! When you're done you can come here and help me get this joint organized!!! LOL

utenzi said...

Cleaning out knick-knacks isn't easy and as we get older and have more momentos it gets increasingly harder. At least you managed to drop 6 of them, Judy. It's a good start.

MaR said...

A darling frame!!
Her father is the one missing the whole point of life, what a @#¬!

It is probably too cold outside, my blogging friends are indoors cleaning out knick-knacks, pantries,and the like... I can only do it little by little...

bobbie said...

So sad that a parent could do that to his children. We have a similar situation in the family.

Your knick knack thinning sounds familiar to me too. When I moved here I did a whole lot of thinning, but I have shelves chock full anyway. Dusting is incredible. I keep telling myself to get rid of it all. But I never do.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

I know you treasure this frame.
There has been a similar situation in my family. But strange when he reappears - the children adore him.
He is the lucky one.

Granny Annie said...

I am laughing so hard at the one tiny picture of the little sister. That would be how my big sis would have made the frame. Well, she may have left me off all together!

Last year my children were left the task of burying their biological dad. He ignored them all their lives but at the time of his death they were all he had and they stepped up, painful as it was. They were even at his bedside to the end. I hated this for them but I was proud of them too. I picked the wrong man and they bore the consequences. He was, however, the right man to add to the make up of my great kids. They are the best of both of us as are your grandchildren to their parents.

Evil Twin's Wife said...

That frame is cute! Why are some parents (it can be either moms or dads who take off from their children's lives) so selfish? I'll never get it.

Joy Des Jardins said...

What an adorable frame Judy. I can see why it would be one of your treasures. That child's father is missing out on so much...one day he'll realize just how much.....too little, too late.

It feels good to get organized, doesn't it? A few knick-knacks here and there....great. I got all of my stuff put away this past weekend....yeah, it's a killer. It's not like it used to be when we were younger. I've got to do it in parts if I want all of MY parts to be working properly.

themom said...

Beautiful frame. Face it - some men are just sperm donors and we have to make sure that positive male influences are in our children and grandchildrens lives. My 8 yo grandson has no "father" in the picture, but he has a super UNCLE!!!!

Marcy said...

I love the frame!!! and how awesome that you have those pictures to share with them when it's time ... very thoughtful of you.

Wow, you have inspired me to do some cleaning around here ... tell me, are dust bunnies considered knick knacks? I've gotten a bit attached to them .. hate to see 'em go. LOL

Pat said...

That is sad but so thoughtful of you Judy to have something to show them later when it's almost inevitable that they will want to see what he l0oked like.
I had a little smile though remembering sisters and sibling rivalry:)
I got rid of some old papers and weight watcher recipes which have been littering the kitchen for ages.

Mojo said...

Aren't the best, most treasured gifts we get the simple ones? Especially when they involve so much dedicated effort from one so young. Rare, in my experience.

Mamie said...

On my blog, you suggested how my anger might be transformed into a gift. That is what your granddaughter's frame has done for her, both literally and figuratively.

And I had to laugh at the sister with one small photo in the corner! There are many possible reasons for this, but I know that the third child of mine had quite a few less photos taken than the first or second!

Very thoughtful post.

whimsical brainpan said...

That is just precious! The best gifts are the ones that are made.

amarkonmywall said...

Wonderful Christmas gift. Definitely one to treasure, even if it is the result of a little hatchet job.I meant to tell you how much I love your header. I can almost smell it.

WordWhiz said...

Awww...great present! You're a lucky grandma.

Why is decorating for the holidays so much fun and un-decorating so much work??

rosemary said...

I need to do the cleaning de cluttering thing too. Sad about the grandkids....their father is even sadder to have chosen to not be in their lives.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

That is a precious gift Judy..And I'm glad you daughter said it was okay to show it--(I am assuming she did...lol)...
It's good that you have that Manilla Folder...One never knows what changes will take place so that they---at some point---will be glad you have those pictures of happier times....

I am really impressed with your "Cleaning Skills"...LOL!
I don't envy you one bit!!

Wendy said...

Yes,I do think this will be a treasured gift. Never mind the dad. He's the one who is missing out.

JeanMac said...

Precious kids.

Anonymous said...

The frame is absolutely precious. And I also am keeping a book for the day my grandaughter is old enough to call me and say, Hey Grandmom, how come you never had anything to do with me when I was growing up?
Well, I will have a very long story to tell her...minus the curse words, of course.

sage said...

Nice frame, but sorry to hear about the source of the photos. It's good that you've saved some memories, but how sad for children never to see a parent.

Jamie Dawn said...

What a wonderful treasure that frame is!

It is very thoughtful of you to keep that folder of photos of their good for nothing dad of the years when he was good for something.
You are wise to think ahead and be prepared to help them work through their questions and curiosity.

Rue said...

What is wrong with some men? It amazes me still that a father could do that.

Annie is going through that right now too. Her "father" hasn't seen her in two years and we're working on #3 now. He calls at the appropriate holidays and promises her that he will come and see her and then he doesn't.

This year she has had enough and has stopped answering his calls and text messages. She said it's not that she never wants to talk to him again, but that she just doesn't feel like it.

Rich is a real dad to her and I think she is finally figuring out what the difference is. I feel awful for her, because it was the same for me, but I'm thankful that Rich excepts her as his own and treats her like it.

I'm sorry that your grand babies have to go through it too.

rue