The photo that breaks my heart

October 2, 2011

I never saw any photos of my dad as a boy, because my grandmother, suffering from dementia in her later years, destroyed all the family albums.

But recently my sister visited my aunt and managed to get hold of this photo.

The little boy on the left, looking away from the camera, is my dad.

It is a tantalising glimpse into the boy he was. All I know of his childhood is the few memories he shared with us – my granddad drawing Disney characters to entertain my dad and his siblings during the war, bread and dripping eaten as a treat, that kind of thing.

Today it’s 23 years since my dad died.

I wish I’d asked him more about his childhood when he was around. And I wish that I could see the little boy’s face in this photo.

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  • dorkymum November 29, 2011 at 7:57 pm

    I read this post when you published it, and didn’t have time to comment, but it has been on my mind ever since because I was so moved by it. I just wanted to pop back and say thank you for sharing something so personal. It’s lovely and sad at the same time.

  • Emily (@AMummyToo) October 12, 2011 at 9:36 am

    Powerful post. Thanks for sharing x

  • kizzy October 11, 2011 at 9:32 pm

    That has made me cry. We take family for granted and then realise once they are no longer with us. I love the picture and love looking back on my grandparents childhood pictures too.

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  • Elaine October 11, 2011 at 10:25 am

    What a poignant photo – so close to what you were looking for but still so far from it… keeping my fingers crossed that more photos emerge

  • Trish @ Mum's Gone to October 2, 2011 at 1:54 pm

    I’m so sorry all you have so little to remind you of your dad’s childhood – very sad, Liz.

    My dad died earlier this year and I’m typing up a blog using the memoirs he began to write before he died. I have photos of him as a young boy – he was probably a similar age to your dad, growing up in the war. Even with all the information I have, I wish I’d asked him more about his life.