I haven't figured that one out yet, L. I had my wedding dress preserved along with a silk hankie and camisole that had belonged to my grandmother. I may sell it on eBay (the dress). The photo album is in a strong box. It has too many pics of my (now departed) relatives to burn. The hardest thing will be the 1920's bride figurine that he gave me as a wedding gift. I have no idea...maybe another eBay sale?

For me, all of the things that have a remote connection with my cheating wife have been put in boxes and stored in a closet. Someday they might get pulled out for my daughter. Maybe not. The key is that right now they cause feelings I would rather not have.

Right now you are in pain or have anger (based on the burn comment). Five years from now I think you will probably be able to look at those things and feel nothing, or at most a vague nostalgia.

I have several things from my girls and am going through about 3000 pics.

I dont have my wedding dress anymore from moving around so much. But I have kept everything else. From my perspective it was a big chapter in my life. I am sure my kids will want to see all of it when they are older. It is all stored away in the closet.

I would box them up, and put the box somewhere that you won't see it. If they are items you want to give to your kid's at a later date then you will have them at that time, but you won't have to look at the stuff until then.

LOL...I'm remarried but my dress from my first wedding is still in my parents' attic. I have the wedding photos in a box in storage just in case my kids ever want to see them. I kept the photos in the photo album. To me, it was another lifetime. I'm a different person now than I was when I was married to my first husband and it doesn't bother me to keep them (nor would it bother me to burn them in a fire pit LOL). I sold the rings and any jewelry he gave to me except for one watch but that was just for the money. They are just things...I guess I don't attach a whole lot of sentiment to things.

I keep them all. It is part of my history and part of my children's right to know all of it....good and bad. If not for my history, I wouldn't have grown so much through the pain and joys. I stored it in a box and sealed it. Someday, someone may want to look through it.

I hung on to the pictures because I agree, that was a different time in my life (besides, I looked hawt!). My son has no relationship with his father so he doesn't care.

It's probably time to do something with the old stuff but I have other things I would much rather do,

Lynne

stash them but bury them deep. Years from now you will be able to look at them without pain and you will realize the memories aren't all bad you got your wonderful children out of the deal so it will be a chapter that was important to you. All of our "chapters" mold who we become, good and bad. You will want to share them with your kids at the right time to explain it all, by then it will probably even makes sense to you.

I struggle with this also. in my case, the ex does not have anything to do with our child- so I'd like to get rid of all of everything, but I dunno, it may be important to him someday to learn what he can about his biological father.

I wanted to burn too...but I couldnt.

I boxed them up and put them away. Someday my son may want to see them and I want him to know that there was a time when his father and I loved each other very much. I think its important for him to know that he was brought into this world in love.

I boxed up everything.. cards, letters, photos, toast glasses from wedding, .. everything & gave them to him with him knowing they are for our daughter one day if she wants them.. He knows that our daughter is aware that all that stuff is there for her so he can't get rid of them.. So all of our life is now being moved into his & the ow's new house that they purchased together recently.. Bahahaha!
I wonder how OW feels about that...

Well kiddo, I am thinkin' neither of your boys are gonna fit in your weddin' dress. Pictures and stuff. Bury them till they ask.

I'm not at that point yet, but I guess I figure I'll keep the pics that relate to our son and let HER deal with all the rest of it. She seems to know what to do about everything anyway.

I never got any of the photos from my marriage of 10 years. I had a lady give me a picture of my son when he was about 6 months old. That's all I have. I guess decisions like this have to come from inside you. Only you know the value of these things in your heart.