<p>When my Mom moved out of her old home to her new one, I received a package, it was my college diploma. It fell behind the washer and lived there for about 15 yrs. It was warped and stained. I laughed, called Mom and asked why did you send it and then tossed it in the circular filing cabinet!</p>
<p>A photo of the neighbor’s late dog wearing a yarlmuke?!!! Perfect! I have a doctored photo of two bulldogs sumo wrestling, but have not had the nerve to frame and display it. Now I am feeling more brave.</p>
<p>No matter what a person may or may not have displayed on the walls of their home, the frig is another matter entirely!! Anything goes on the frig.</p>
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I don’t see how having pictures on the wall is bragging. Maybe if they were pictures with celebrities like I’ve seen on restaurant walls, or diplomas or trophies, but pictures?</p>
<p>Everybody I know has pictures of their kids all over the place. It’s not bragging, it is enjoying the kids. There’s no way I’m taking down their first portrait right underneath their high school one. It’s more priceless than any art by a famous artist.</p>
<p>I do have two paintings in the foyer. Nobody has ever stopped to admire those like they have the ones of the kids on the walls.</p>
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<p>Ah, second marriage. I was wondering if this was all jealousy, and from your answers, it seems clear that’s the case. I am not in a position to psychobabble, but it sounds to me like he’s trying to find a reason to blame you for the breakup, instead of him looking in the mirror. Keep your pictures where they are, dust them proudly, and move on ! Good luck to you in the future.</p>
<p>wow, you parents sound amazing! my mom has like five pictures of me (4 by 6in) on the fridge, but that’s it.
:(</p>
<p>We have hall tables upstairs and downstairs to showcase all my kids’ trophies, medals, certificates, awards, and diplomas. Everything. From wrestling tournaments to science fair projects, you will come to understand just what they are capable of when you enter my house. I usually frame their report cards (we get copies for colleges). They aren’t allowed any of this in their rooms as the bedroom is for privacy and I want their accomplishments to be viewable at all times. A scrapbook of my kids’ year-by-year class pictures lies on one table for public viewing. I have attempted scrapbooking like my girlfriends, but believe it or not my h likes doing it and is much better than me – he does all of it (lol). The refrigerator has a mini white board and magnets we got for free – only 2 of which have any connection to my oldest’s accomplishments. Other than that a few other walls have some family pictures, and that’s about it.</p>
<p>You most certainly are not alone! In addition to assorted family photos through the house, I also have the large-ish oil painting (at about age 4) in our bedroom. In my office, I have her framed interpretation of Monet’s “Water Lilies” done in fourth grade. I still enjoy looking at it after all these years :)</p>
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<p>If ever there was a case of “consider the source”, this is it. </p>
<p>If we are lucky, then our homes are a sanctuary. The only opinions that count are the ones of the people who live in the house. Do the things you surround yourself with in your home make you feel happy? peaceful? secure? Those are the questions I ask myself. </p>
<p>I truly do not care one bit if someone who does not live in my home thinks what I choose to feather my nest with is normal or not. That’s just simply not the point of having ones own home, in my opinion.</p>
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<p>I think that was a point being made upthread – no one needs to understand “just what our kids are capable of,” because it’s not a contest. </p>
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<p>Given that you said the other day you’ll call your kids several times a day at college (and memorize their class schedules accordingly), and email their professors, and won’t “let” them attend research universities, I wonder if there’s some ■■■■■ stuff going on?</p>
<p>My house is a shrine to the things I love most. My children. No apologies. Their stuff/awards/pictures/ memorabilia is everywhere and I often get compliments on how lovely it all is. For example, I have their tiffany baby rattles and silk christening shoes in my china cabinet with my lladro figurines my mom gave me when they were born. Also have their christening gown in a shadow box in my bedroom. I believe if it is tastefully done and gives you a moment of repose to reflect on a nice memory, then it is all good. Do what you love.</p>
<p>Do what you love.</p>
<p>I’m with MomofWildChild…how about all the parking tickets, speeding tickets, accident reports and court stuff! My child is wild child’s brother!<br>
I also have soccer trophys, lacrosse stuff, cross country stuff, music awards and lots of pictures up of all the kids.<br>
You do what makes you and your kids happy! Don’t let anyone tell you any differently!</p>
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<p>I forgot about those things! I, too, have the silver baby spoons, Tiffany piggybanks, silver cups, etc. in my china cabinet. I received 2 Lladros when they were born - one showing infant twins, another that shows a mother with a boy and a girl. My mother gave my kids Lladros when they had their bar / bat mitzvah – not what they would have liked, I’m sure, but they’re in my china cabinet til they are old enough to get them. The shadow box sounds lovely. </p>
<p>When my sister was expecting, she announced it by giving each of our family members a little Swarowski (sp?) crystal rattle; I have that on top of some books in my living room as well.</p>
<p>I’ve got tons of family pictures too - I guess I’d be a designer’s nightmare!! But, I love my family - husband, kids, and now, new daughter-in-law, so what would I want to surround myself with, but memories and momentos of them!?!</p>
<p>My husband is fine with it too, because if you walk in his parent’s house, there are still little league trophies of his and his brothers on the shelves 
My kids loved seeing them when they were growing up, and I think they expect their trophies to be displayed for their kids as well 
LOL</p>
<p>Honestly I think it’s personal style – I wouldn’t want photos along every surface, but it has nothing to do with my kids – I just dislike a lot of clutter and like a more streamlined look.</p>
<p>I’d love to get a shadowbox for all my letters (I have two–an academic letter and a music letter–that are not on my letterman’s jacket) and medallions. High school was an awesome part of my life and I’d like to have something to remember it by instead of just throwing all of them in a box.</p>
<p>I used to have all my dogs’ competition ribbons hung in my office. Then I moved and right now they’re all packed away. </p>
<p>I have a shelf with everyone’s (mine, the kids, etc.) diplomas in their leather diploma cases, right next to the photo albums. I have a few personal pictures around the house but none in the public areas. Travel and art photos all over the house, taken by DH, friends, etc. DH has sold his photos professionally so mostly those are pretty good. (The one of the spinner dolphins he doesn’t like because they’re too blue, but I love them, because I was there.)</p>
<p>As for honors and trophies and so on… well, most of that stuff is packed away. I was raised to believe that you don’t brag about your accomplishments, you let people find them out.</p>
<p>Oh owlice, don’t give it a second thought. </p>
<p>We have scads of family pictures in practically every room of our house. I love being surrounded by generations of ancestors, from the Sicilians to the Swedes, DAR members to immigrant children. It gives my children a sense of who they are and serve as a reminder of how many sacrificed to get them to this place.</p>
<p>Pictures of the children? OMG. Tons and tons. From babyhood to teenagers. Big, small, professional, candids, framed, unframed, the gamut. I can’t seem to ever take any down, I just add more. It’s all well and good until I have to dust. Then I wonder if I’m insane. But I love being surrounded by them all through the ages. When my gothy girl’s dark clothes, dark eyeliner and dark mood get me down, I can look at the picture of her unpierced little girl self in front of the petunias in a floral sundress, pink bow in her pretty long hair, and smile. </p>
<p>The fridge is where the best stuff makes its first stop. If a report card, worksheet, award, or drawing is exceptional, it is deemed “fridge-worthy” and it gets hung up on a special clip until the next deserving piece arrives. Pictures of extended family and friends hang there, too. </p>
<p>All their awards, medals, trophies, varsity letters and certificates are in their rooms. Some of the kids choose to display them there, others don’t. Even if I had a good place to hang them, I think they’d want to have them in their own rooms to enjoy. </p>
<p>Our diplomas and professional certificates are in a box somewhere. If we had offices we’d probably display them, if appropriate. </p>
<p>One daughter is an exceptional artist, in my humble opinion. Her work is framed and hangs all around the house. The littlest is still in the art-project-a-week stage so his current masterpiece gets taped up in the kitchen to be admired during every meal. </p>
<p>I don’t think the soon 2BX is in a position to question anything you do, owlice. I’m so sorry about the circumstances. I hope you are not too heartbroken. I say surround yourself with whatever you need and like.</p>
<p>The Fridge…my fridge was also the place where everything was displayed, much to my husband’s dismay. We had pictures, school work, art projects…my 20 year old son’s first grade magnet project. We hung all kinds of tests up there…from As to Fs (not for very long). I had a clip with schedules and field trip forms in it. It wasn’t the neatest…but it was informative!</p>
<p>Then, we needed a new fridge. After a short search, we bought a stainless steel fridge. My husband neglected to tell me that magnets do not stick to it (perhaps he should be an ex!). It looks kinda forlorn without all of that stuff. I haven’t quite figured out what to do with the pix and forms!</p>
<p>I have pics of both of my kids right here on my computer desk…in their high school…and my son in his college grad robes. We have a bookshelf UPSTAIRS in our house with pics of them growing up. Downstairs, there is a pic of each of them…high school or college grad pic…on a shelf. Nothing larger than a 5x7…and NOTHING hanging on any walls. </p>
<p>All awards, and such are in their bedrooms. Nothing is framed and on the walls. They are in albums on a shelf. </p>
<p>Oh…I have a pic of them on my fridge that I took when they were both at home.</p>
<p>I have lots of pictures, but my MOM’s walls are covered! Your almost-ex is obviously a childish, evil scumbag. Who could fault a mother for displaying pictures of her child?? I wouldn’t waste another second worrying about any opinions that loser has.</p>
<p>Have a lovely day and enjoy those photos!</p>