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Stepmom Demands All Remains Of Late Wife Be Thrown Out, Daughter Goes Into Full Heist Mode Instead
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Stepmom Demands All Remains Of Late Wife Be Thrown Out, Daughter Goes Into Full Heist Mode Instead

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The passing of a parent, particularly when one is younger is a pretty difficult thing to deal with. It comes with emotions and unspoken words that the child (and later, adult) carries with them for a long time. However, life moves on and sometimes that means having to deal with a step-parent, who might not take kindly to the memory of whoever they replaced.

A woman wondered if she was wrong for recovering her late mother’s stuff from the garbage after her stepmom threw it all out. We reached out to the woman who made the post via private message and will update the article when she gets back to us.

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    Wanting to keep some memorabilia of a late parent is very normal

    Image credits: Toa Heftiba / unsplash (not the actual photo)

    So one young woman was surprised that her parents were so unhappy when she took her late mom’s stuff from the trash

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    Image credits: Zinkevych_D / envato (not the actual photo)

    Image credits: Special-Pea-9161

    We like things that remind us of loved ones

    Keeping memorabilia of late parents is a deeply human instinct, tied to memory, love, and the need for connection. When a parent passes away, their absence creates a space that can never truly be filled. Their voice, presence, and the small everyday moments shared with them become something we can no longer experience in real time. Memorabilia, whether it is a photograph, an old letter, a favorite sweater, or even a well-worn piece of furniture, becomes a way to bridge that gap. These objects help keep their memory alive, allowing people to feel a sense of closeness even when their loved one is gone. Memories are complicated, but most folks wouldn’t want to fully “forget” even if there were some issues.

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    A physical object can carry more than just sentimental value. It can hold the weight of a person’s history and identity. A handwritten note might bring back the warmth of a parent’s advice. A watch or a piece of jewelry may remind someone of the small gestures they made while wearing it, checking the time before leaving for work or fastening a necklace before a special event. Even something as simple as a coffee mug can bring back memories of quiet mornings spent together. These small but powerful reminders help preserve the emotional connection to a parent who is no longer there.

    Beyond memory, memorabilia also provides comfort during the grieving process. Grief is complicated and does not follow a set timeline. Some people find solace in holding onto objects that belonged to their parents, while others might take years before they feel ready to go through them. Having physical reminders can offer reassurance in moments of sadness, as if a part of the parent still exists within reach. It allows people to continue their bond in a different way, one that is less about presence and more about remembrance.

    Often these items are someone’s last link to their parents

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    Memorabilia also serves as a link between generations. Many people hold onto their late parents’ belongings not just for themselves, but to pass them down to children and grandchildren. A family heirloom, an old photo album, or even a collection of books can provide future generations with a sense of connection to their ancestry. These objects tell stories, offering glimpses into who their parents were before they became parents, what they valued, and the life they lived. In this way, memorabilia becomes more than just an object, it becomes a way to keep family history alive.

    Holding onto a parent’s belongings is not just about remembering them, but about keeping a piece of them in daily life. Even if time moves forward and life changes, these objects act as small anchors to the past. They remind people of the love, lessons, and moments they shared with the ones who raised them. In a world that often rushes forward, having something to hold onto, something that carries the presence of a loved one, can be a quiet but powerful form of comfort.

    This is all to say that throwing these items away was a very rude and even aggressive act. This late woman’s daughter deserved to be able to at least pick what she wanted to keep. The stepmom was perhaps feeling threatened, but that doesn’t justify her actions in any way. Setting that aside, attacking her after she rescued the items is just cruel, particularly when her own father didn’t have her back.

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    Most thought she was right and the woman gave some more details in the comments

    Readers thought her parents were absolutely unreasonable

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    Ic_polls

    Poll Question

    How should the father have handled the situation regarding his late wife’s belongings?

    Support his children in keeping the items

    Side with his new wife to maintain peace

    Find a compromise between both sides

    Avoid getting involved in the dispute

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    Justin Sandberg

    Justin Sandberg

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    I am a writer at Bored Panda. Despite being born in the US, I ended up spending most of my life in Europe, from Latvia, Austria, and Georgia to finally settling in Lithuania. At Bored Panda, you’ll find me covering topics ranging from the cat meme of the day to red flags in the workplace and really anything else. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, beating other people at board games, cooking, good books, and bad films.

    Read less »
    Justin Sandberg

    Justin Sandberg

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    I am a writer at Bored Panda. Despite being born in the US, I ended up spending most of my life in Europe, from Latvia, Austria, and Georgia to finally settling in Lithuania. At Bored Panda, you’ll find me covering topics ranging from the cat meme of the day to red flags in the workplace and really anything else. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, beating other people at board games, cooking, good books, and bad films.

    Gabija Palšytė

    Gabija Palšytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    Gabija is a photo editor at Bored Panda. Before joining the team, she achieved a Professional Bachelor degree in Photography and has been working as a freelance photographer since. She also has a special place in her heart for film photography, movies and nature.

    Read less »

    Gabija Palšytė

    Gabija Palšytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Gabija is a photo editor at Bored Panda. Before joining the team, she achieved a Professional Bachelor degree in Photography and has been working as a freelance photographer since. She also has a special place in her heart for film photography, movies and nature.

    What do you think ?
    Add photo comments
    POST
    Asdf
    Community Member
    19 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Dad is a spineless coward. Step-mom is a walking stereotype of the "evil step-mom" trope.

    Tyke
    Community Member
    8 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He'd best love evil step mum with all his heart, and hope it stays that way because it looks like he's lost his first wife and both his kids.

    Load More Replies...
    Shark Lady
    Community Member
    19 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No YTA comments, that must be a first. I wonder if this is a relief with a big age difference, it's a bit clichéd but some newly divorced or widowed men jump into a relationship with a much younger partner. It sounds like the children have been expected to play happy families right from the beginning and so it's unsurprising that there is conflict. Hopefully once they are no longer living on top of each other, a more respectful relationship can be worked towards.

    Orysha
    Community Member
    10 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No that happens sometimes. I think Dad's wife hasn't found it yet.

    Load More Replies...
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    Asdf
    Community Member
    19 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Dad is a spineless coward. Step-mom is a walking stereotype of the "evil step-mom" trope.

    Tyke
    Community Member
    8 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He'd best love evil step mum with all his heart, and hope it stays that way because it looks like he's lost his first wife and both his kids.

    Load More Replies...
    Shark Lady
    Community Member
    19 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No YTA comments, that must be a first. I wonder if this is a relief with a big age difference, it's a bit clichéd but some newly divorced or widowed men jump into a relationship with a much younger partner. It sounds like the children have been expected to play happy families right from the beginning and so it's unsurprising that there is conflict. Hopefully once they are no longer living on top of each other, a more respectful relationship can be worked towards.

    Orysha
    Community Member
    10 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No that happens sometimes. I think Dad's wife hasn't found it yet.

    Load More Replies...
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