DD's time capsule - WWYD?

[spoon2003]

DD13 was conceived after years of infertility treatment and since we thought she would be our only 'one', we sort of went all out with her the first few years. For her 1st birthday, I made a time capsule with news clippings, letters from friends and relatives, expensive jewelry and mementos. My intention was to have a sweet 16th party and open the capsule. 4 years later DS8 was accidentally conceived and a total surprise. By that time I have forgotten about the capsule so didn’t make one for DS8. Recently while we were cleaning, DD13 found the capsule and asked about it, I just kind of brush it off. But now I don't know what to do with the capsule? I’m pretty sure we won’t have a big capsule unveiling party so I'm thinking of me secretly opening the capsule now and start giving her the items little by little hoping DS8 won't notice. Any other ideas? For the record, I love both of my children dearly and would not purposely favor one over another

 

[tw1nsmom]

Couldn't you create one now for DS8? Ask relatives to write their memories of his birth, go to the library and make copies of articles from newspapers (on computer or microfiche) from the day he was born, and search the house for photos and mimentos. Include a letter from you and DH and explain what a wonderful surprise/miracle his birth was. Explain that you were so enthralled with his birth that it slipped your mind that you had made a capsul for DD. After finding it you were inspired to make one for him.


I'm a second child. I think it's just the way things are. When you have one baby you have more time to do things like time capsuls. When the second one comes along, parents are often too busy for the little details. I'm fortunate in that all I have is my twins. I didn't have time to attend to the details for either one, so no inequities there.

 

[disneyfreakk]

Maybe you could put the stuff in a hope chest for her. I am not 100% sure, but I think only girls get hope chests.

 

[Sleepy]

How about make a capsule with his help. Allow him to choose what items he may want to put in it. Maybe a good grade on a test, a favorite thing he had when he was really little, a birthday card, a picture of him with his best friend. Then, wait until he graduates from high school to open it. Alot happens in 10 years.

 

[mtemm]

I would go ahead and try to create one for DS now. you can probably get copies of the newspapers from the library, or at least a printout. relatives can still write letters, remembering the day. you could do research as to the top 10 songs, or whatever else is important from that time.

I like the idea of giving the kids time capsules. it doesn't have to be a big unveiling, but it is a nice thing for kids to have.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Couldn't you create one now for DS8? Ask relatives to write their memories of his birth, go to the library and make copies of articles from newspapers (on computer or microfiche) from the day he was born, and search the house for photos and mimentos. Include a letter from you and DH and explain what a wonderful surprise/miracle his birth was. Explain that you were so enthralled with his birth that it slipped your mind that you had made a capsul for DD. After finding it you were inspired to make one for him.


I'm a second child. I think it's just the way things are. When you have one baby you have more time to do things like time capsuls. When the second one comes along, parents are often too busy for the little details. I'm fortunate in that all I have is my twins. I didn't have time to attend to the details for either one, so no inequities there.

ITA. I think it would be great to create a time capsule for your DS. I know I would have loved it! You could give it as a graduation gift or some other major life change type of gift.

As for being the firstborn v. later children, that's just the way it seems to go, so don't feel too guilty.

My mom had a baby book for her firstborn, and tons of photos. She started a baby book for the 2nd, and there are lots of photos of the two kids together, hardly any of the 2nd child alone. No baby book for the 3rd, and pictures of the 3 kids together. No baby book for the 4th, lots of pictures of her, knowing she was the last one.

Now that I have my own 2, I have lots of pictures of them together and separately; they are, after all, the firstborn and the lastborn.

 

[MagicalMom]

I would hold on to it for a while & quietly give it to her on her wedding day or after the birth of her first child.
In the meantime you could start making one for your son. You & your husband could still write letters. You could also enclose baseballs cards fromhis birth year, money, pictures, etc.

 

[LadyZolt]

DS8 is a boy, and they don't usually have a "Sweet 16" party. I think if you did something like get him a nice used car for his 16th birthday, or a special trip somewhere that he likes, he will be just as happy as your DD would be with this special time capsule stuff.

Children are each unique and parents don't have to be 100% equal in everything. So long as the child feels loved for his/her own self, I think that having unique special things for them will help them feel unique.

In my house, I got DD a real emerald ring when she started "womanhood" so to speak (LOL!), and my son got a special trip to Star Wars weekends with his dad for a special moment in his life. Would my son want an emerald ring? No. Would my daughter want to meet Chewbaca? No. LOL! So, just do something special that each will like, and they will be happy, I think.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[DisneyfeverTN]

DS8 is a boy, and they don't usually have a "Sweet 16" party. I think if you did something like get him a nice used car for his 16th birthday, or a special trip somewhere that he likes, he will be just as happy as your DD would be with this special time capsule stuff.

Children are each unique and parents don't have to be 100% equal in everything. So long as the child feels loved for his/her own self, I think that having unique special things for them will help them feel unique.

In my house, I got DD a real emerald ring when she started "womanhood" so to speak (LOL!), and my son got a special trip to Star Wars weekends with his dad for a special moment in his life. Would my son want an emerald ring? No. Would my daughter want to meet Chewbaca? No. LOL! So, just do something special that each will like, and they will be happy, I think.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

I think because you have a boy and a girl, they will be less likely to feel jealous over the same things. I think the time capsule was a great idea. I wish I had thought of that for my daughter.

 

[AKL_Megs]

DS8 is a boy, and they don't usually have a "Sweet 16" party. I think if you did something like get him a nice used car for his 16th birthday, or a special trip somewhere that he likes, he will be just as happy as your DD would be with this special time capsule stuff.

Couldn't agree with you more! Sixteen-year-old guys don't really care too much about all of that sentimental stuff, and IMO, neither do sixteen-year-old girls, either. Speaking for myself, if my mom would have given me at 16 a time capsule, I wouldn't have thought too much of it. But if she pulled it out for me on, say my wedding day next year (24), I would be so excited to have such a sentimental gift! I'd say save the capsule for her wedding day.

As for the boy, I don't know when men apprectiate sentimental gifts... my DF could have cared less and fallen asleep while I opened our engagement gifts, and they were sentimental.

 

[JR6ooo4]

Your solution is truly the information age. eBay! You can get items from the year he was born, or one year old. Even disney stuff. It does not have the same effect as something saved for a while but now you have the knowledge of his interests to make it even more personal.

I bought a mint set of coins of DWs birthdate for a birthday present.

MIkeeee