I Wanted to Give My Daughter the Videotapes of Her Late Mother on Her 18th Birthday – but My New Wife Had Other Plans

For 16 years, I saved old videotapes of my late wife Nicole—memories I planned to give our daughter Amber on her 18th birthday. But when I went to get them, they were gone.

Nicole died in a car accident when Amber was two, and I raised her alone until I married Lauren five years ago. Lauren never fully accepted Nicole’s place in our lives.

As Amber’s birthday approached, I told Lauren about the tapes. She acted supportive—until the next morning, when I discovered she had thrown them out, saying it was “time to move on.” I was devastated. Those tapes were all Amber had of her mother.

When Amber came back from a school trip, I told her the truth. She was heartbroken but determined to try. That night, we searched the city dump—and unbelievably found four tapes.

I had them digitized. On her birthday, Amber saw her mother’s face and voice for the first time since childhood. It was emotional and healing.

Lauren’s apology later felt empty. Amber couldn’t forgive her, and neither could I. Our marriage fell apart soon after.

Now Amber studies film, inspired by the tapes. Her project, Echoes, blends her mother’s past with her own present—a reminder that love survives loss, and some memories are too precious to discard.