When you are the last person & no one wants all the photos ?

Oh no, I'm sorry, that must be a terribly difficult situation to be in.

Do you have to go through these things right now? It sounds like maybe there is still some healing to do, and maybe it's not the right time to deal with this stuff (if you don't have to). At the very least I hope you have the support of someone who loves you or a professional. PTSD isn't something to mess around with. Perhaps it is time to let go of some photos or albums, or maybe you can set them aside until you're more ready. If you are downsizing or decluttering more broadly there might be less emotional things to take care of first - don't start with the hardest things!

Please ask for help, personal or professional. Even just someone to sit with you while you go through things.

I am sorry to hear you are struggling with this. If the photos being there physically are causing you pain, perhaps you can send them to a company to digitize everything for you? Something like Legacy Box maybe. I have not used their services personally, but maybe someone else has.

That way, if someone in the future decides they do want some photos, you would still have them. It is much easier to store an external hardrive versus years of physical photos.

I have no advice to give, just hugs as you face your loss again quiltz.

I'm so sorry. My son died in 2016, when he was 26. I'm not sure what will happen to my scrapbooks and photos. I am inclined to digitize everything. My daughter enjoys looking at family photos and just recently decided she wants to do digital scrapbooking. My other son is uninterested. My husband cannot look at the photos of when our son was very young, but he has an easier time with the later pictures. We all handle our grief differently. Right now, the scrapbooks are for me. I don't expect my children to take on all of the bulky 12X12 albums in my living room, but who knows? Digitizing everything seems the way to go.

I have a form of PTSD, and I don't expect it to go away. I don't expect my grief to go away. I have learned to live with all of it. I have a great therapist, and I have also found it helpful to attend a couple of groups for parents. Compassionate Friends was very helpful.

Please feel free to message me. If something no longer brings you joy, let it go. Which is so hard to do, I know.

I'm so sorry you have this heartache quiltz. It's understandable that you don't want to let anything go; I would feel the same way. The ladies above have given you some good advice for dealing with your photos and your feelings.
What about loading the photos onto your computer yourself and then saving them to a disc or thumb drive? I'm not good with "techy" stuff but maybe this would be a more affordable alternative to having them professionally done.
Hugs to you.

quiltz I'm so sorry your wound has been opened all over again as you deal with this headache (and heartache) of a situation. 

Is there anyone who could sit with you should you decide to go through the photos? It doesn't need to be a BFF. Sometimes, a friend or acquaintance (or therapist if you're seeing one) you know to have a good listening ear is better than someone you're super close to. It sounds like the volume of photos is overwhelming you and your home right now. If you feel you have the strength to do it, it could be good to sit down for an afternoon with a cup of tea and pick out the very best ones you can still see yourself looking at in the future. It sounds like it is indeed time to let the rest go.

I understand how upsetting it must feel that her father and brother don't seem interested in taking on these photos or helping you with the task at hand. They have processed their own grief and are probably not realising the emotional toll this is taking on you and the urgency of the situation with your condo running out of space. I wish one of us could just magically hop over to your home and sit with you as go through a lifetime of cherished memories... Please know we get your pain. ❤️

it's ok to let them go.  i would rather be the one to let them go rather than to force them on people who may just unceremoniously discard them.  

I haven't responded to this thread, as well, I didn't have any good advice. I've kept everything from my daughter when she passed and probably should get rid of most of it, but just haven't/can't.

Whatever you chose to do, will be okay. Getting rid of all of it. Getting rid of none of it. Hiding it all in a closet (like I do). You know how you feel when you are around the items and only you can decide when its time to let it go. Whatever you chose, I wish you peace.


As you said, grieving is hard work.


edited: I see you've made your decision. Good for you. I hope you can find peace. 

marie I cannot imagine. Your heart must have broken into a kzillion pieces. 

I can't even imagine, I'm so sorry. Hugs and all the love in the world.

Edit: because I clearly cannot spell heart.

Thank you. I appreciate it.