Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

Woman Is Facing Divorce After Throwing Away Husband’s Sentimental Memory From Childhood
Close-up of a hand holding a collection of Poku00e9mon cards, highlighting the popular collectible card game cards.

Woman Is Facing Divorce After Throwing Away Husband’s Sentimental Memory From Childhood

39

ADVERTISEMENT

Being a collector is a hobby that many adults enjoy. Whether it’s stamps, figurines, baseball cards, or coins, 61% of Americans consider themselves to be collectors. However, to some, this hobby seems childish, especially if you collect items that, in our culture, are perceived as “childish.”

This guy was an avid Pokémon card collector until his wife decided to get rid of his considerable collection. Calling the hobby “playing with kids’ stuff,” the woman unceremoniously threw his collector’s cards in the trash. Feeling incredibly hurt and disrespected, the man vented online and even hinted at considering divorce.

RELATED:

    A couple got into a huge fight over the husband’s “childish” Pokémon card collection

    Hand holding a collection of Pokémon cards, highlighting the husband's valued Pokémon card collection controversy.

    Image credits: Erik Mclean / unsplash (not the actual photo)

    The wife threw it away without telling him, and he got so mad that he started considering divorce

    Man explains wife threw away his valuable Pokémon card collection he treasured since childhood.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Text from a man explaining his wife threw away his Pokémon card collection without asking, sparking conflict in marriage.

    Woman and husband having a heated argument on couch about his Pokémon card collection in a modern living room setting.

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

    Text post expressing frustration about a potential divorce after a wife discarded husband's Pokémon card collection.

    Image credits: JudoPlant

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    “When she decided to do this, she threw away our marriage along with the cards”

    Online comment discussing wife under fire for getting rid of husband's Pokémon card collection causing marriage issues.

    Reddit comments discussing a wife disposing of husband's Pokémon card collection, sparking controversy over marriage issues.

    Reddit comments discussing a wife under fire for getting rid of husband's Pokémon card collection.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Commenters sided with the husband, marveling at the wife’s ignorance about how valuable these collectibles are

    Screenshot of a social media comment discussing a wife under fire for getting rid of husband’s Pokémon card collection.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Comment on a forum discussing a wife under fire for throwing away her husband's Pokémon card collection.

    Screenshot of Reddit comment advising divorce, reporting theft, suing, and investigating whereabouts of husband's Pokémon card collection.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Text post about spouse conflict involving throwing away Gundam and makeup collections amid a heated breakup discussion.

    Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing the wife who threw away husband's Pokémon card collection.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Reddit comment expressing shock and sympathy over wife throwing away husband's Pokémon card collection, sparking controversy.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Screenshot of an online comment criticizing a wife for discarding her husband’s Pokémon card collection during a marriage dispute.

    Reddit comment discussing the value of a rare Pokémon card in a husband’s discarded card collection controversy.

    Screenshot of a Reddit comment expressing disbelief over a wife throwing away her husband's Pokémon card collection.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Screenshot of a Reddit comment saying that losing a Pokémon card collection is grounds for divorce and emotional pain.

    Reddit comment discussing the controversy over wife throwing away husband's Pokémon card collection causing marriage issues.

    Comment discussing the controversy of a wife discarding her husband's Pokémon card collection, calling it childish and extreme.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Comment discussing the controversy over a wife discarding her husband's Pokémon card collection and related collectible spending.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Screenshot of an online comment discussing a wife under fire for getting rid of her husband’s Pokémon card collection.

    Young people are the most avid collectors, and it’s how they express their personalities

    Collecting is a hobby that’s almost as old as time. Even Roman emperors and noblemen in the Middle Ages were coin collectors, and cabinets of curiosities can be considered in the realm of collecting as well.

    People can choose to collect almost anything, as long as it has sentimental or monetary value. In essence, collecting is just like any other hobby. And having a hobby has been proven to have a positive effect on our well-being and overall happiness.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    This may come as a surprise to some, but collecting “childish” items or those that are considered “kids’ stuff” is actually on the rise. In 2022, 28% of U.S. adults said they had bought toys or collectibles for themselves or another adult once or twice that year. In 2025, that number rose to 35%.

    Gen Z and millennials are leading the way in buying collectibles for reasons different from those 45 and older. Younger people are buying collectible toys (like Funko Pops, Labubus, Squishmallows, etc.) to express their personalities and aesthetics. Those who are 45 and older cite childhood nostalgia and financial investment as the primary reasons to collect.

    The most popular item to collect is coins (17%), with toys/dolls (12%), trading cards (12%), and jewelry (12%) as the second most popular items. Other Americans also collect sports memorabilia (9%), but most millennials (18%) collect trading cards of some sort.

    Collecting Pokémon cards can be a serious investment

    Image credits: Jovan Vasiljević / unsplash (not the actual photo)

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Pokémon cards, in particular, have been gaining a lot of popularity lately. Even Professional Sports Authenticators, or PSA, a company that authenticates and grades collectibles, admits that Pokémon cards have doubled their business. In 2022, they graded seven million cards. In 2023, the number rose to 14 million.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    “There’s a real emotional connection people have to these players or characters,” the president of the PSA, Ryan Hoge, told the LA Times. “We’ve seen several Pokémon cards sell for over $400,000.”

    Of course, for the husband in this story, the value of the Pokémon cards was more sentimental than monetary. Still, as many commenters pointed out, the wife clearly had no idea how much money she had just thrown out in the trash.

    A Charizard card in pristine condition, for example, could be worth up to $20,000 today. Just a couple of months ago, the co-owner of the Hidden Gems Card Shop in Michigan, Jonathan, explained to Detroit Local 4 News how the bubble keeps getting bigger and shows no signs of bursting.

    In the ’90s, collectors could have bought a first-edition limited-printing card set for around $99. Today, that set is worth around $16,500. “It’s more popular now than it’s ever been,” Jonathan explained to Local 4 News.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    So, why is collecting some items considered cooler than others? Why are Pokémon cards childish, but FIFA cards are okay? Why do some people think that it’s less respectable to collect Darth Vader figurines than to have a drawer full of postage stamps? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, Pandas, and share what items you are collecting!

    A few days later, the husband came back with an update

    Child holding three rare Pokémon card collection with shimmering holographic effects in a close-up view

    Image credits: Mick Haupt / unsplash (not the actual photo)

    Text post about wife throwing away husband's Pokémon card collection, sparking relationship and Pokémon card controversy.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Text excerpt about a wife under fire for throwing away husband's Pokémon card collection amid marriage issues.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Text excerpt describing a husband planning divorce after wife disposed of his Pokémon card collection.

    Text message thanking supporters after wife disposed of husband's Pokémon card collection, addressing donations and final update.

    Image credits: JudoPlant

    ADVERTISEMENT

    “File a police report and recoup that money in the divorce,” one commenter advised

    Wife under fire for throwing away husband's valuable Pokémon card collection, sparking marriage conflict and online debate.

    Screenshot of a Reddit comment expressing sympathy for someone whose Pokémon card collection was thrown away by their spouse.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Screenshot of a social media comment discussing the controversy over a wife getting rid of her husband’s Pokémon card collection.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Screenshot of a Reddit post about a wife under fire for throwing away husband’s Pokémon card collection.

    Comment from user lonelygalexy questioning wife's motives for getting rid of husband's Pokémon card collection online.

    Screenshot of a user comment suggesting filing a police report to recoup money after wife discarded husband's Pokémon card collection.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Reddit comment discussing anger over wife getting rid of husband's Pokémon card collection, causing marriage conflict.

    Screenshot of an online comment saying Congratulations, related to wife under fire for getting rid of husband's Pokémon card collection.

    Screenshot of an online comment criticizing a wife for throwing away her husband’s Pokémon card collection, sparking controversy.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Commenter discusses marriage issues and the impact of getting rid of husband's Pokémon card collection on the relationship.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Comment about old Pokémon card collection, valuing personal childhood memorabilia despite wear and damage.

    Screenshot of a Reddit comment advising not to move out after wife under fire for getting rid of husband's Pokémon card collection.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Comment on a forum post criticizing the wife's decision to throw away her husband's Pokémon card collection, highlighting relationship issues.

    Comment discussing consequences after wife got rid of husband's Pokémon card collection, sparking marriage dispute online.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Text comment on a social platform expressing a harsh opinion about a wife and her husband's relationship issues involving Pokémon cards.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Poll Question

    Total votes ·

    Thanks! Check out the results:

    Total votes ·
    Share on Facebook

    Explore more of these tags

    Kornelija Viečaitė

    Kornelija Viečaitė

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    Hi there, fellow pandas! As a person (over)educated both in social sciences and literature, I'm most interested in how we connect and behave online (and sometimes in real life too.) The human experience is weird, so I try my best to put its peculiarities in writing. As a person who grew up chronically online, I now try to marry two sides of myself: the one who knows too much about MySpace, and the one who can't settle and needs to see every corner of the world.

    Read less »
    Kornelija Viečaitė

    Kornelija Viečaitė

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Hi there, fellow pandas! As a person (over)educated both in social sciences and literature, I'm most interested in how we connect and behave online (and sometimes in real life too.) The human experience is weird, so I try my best to put its peculiarities in writing. As a person who grew up chronically online, I now try to marry two sides of myself: the one who knows too much about MySpace, and the one who can't settle and needs to see every corner of the world.

    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 ?
    KatSaidWhat
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't get the pokemon thing but if my husband threw our my crime fiction collection or anything I had spent years on and told me it was time to move on, I would. From him. That's a massive lack of respect and it's only a pity that were married when she decided to do that. Because you know she has been s**t speaking this for years now behind his back.

    Binky Melnik
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I’d like to think your husband (and ALL reasonable spouses!) don’t feel it’s their right to decide for you that you should grow up/not play with something/value something they don’t/collect things that give you joy/not do something they don’t approve of/whatever. Every time I see a post about someone announcing her husband “should have outgrown games by now,” i seethe while my blood boils. Anyone who feels they’re the arbiter of what is an “age-appropriate” activity or pastime for someone else can fυck right the hell off with that garbage. Adults can make these decisions for themselves without the help of some аsshole who thinks he/she knows better.

    Load More Replies...
    Auntriarch
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have just had a cull of my books. It's Mr Auntriarch's turn next. He will cull his own books. It doesn't matter how unimportant they are to me, they aren't mine. And if the were from his childhood, if probably be making special little bags to protect them.

    Vinnie
    Community Member
    1 month ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Exactly. If someone has an issue with another's collection, tell them. Then compromise. The only exception would be hoarding and safety issues. My father was a hoarder, so the piles of newspapers and the rotting potatoes had to be sneaked out. I'm a bit of a hoarder, but aware and working on it. But the stuffed toy that my mother made - that stays!

    Load More Replies...
    Trillian
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Aside from the possible value, the sheer effing disrespect of taking something that is not hers and throwing it away because she thinks he should not have that is mind-boggling. He ist right to leave.

    Load More Comments
    KatSaidWhat
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't get the pokemon thing but if my husband threw our my crime fiction collection or anything I had spent years on and told me it was time to move on, I would. From him. That's a massive lack of respect and it's only a pity that were married when she decided to do that. Because you know she has been s**t speaking this for years now behind his back.

    Binky Melnik
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I’d like to think your husband (and ALL reasonable spouses!) don’t feel it’s their right to decide for you that you should grow up/not play with something/value something they don’t/collect things that give you joy/not do something they don’t approve of/whatever. Every time I see a post about someone announcing her husband “should have outgrown games by now,” i seethe while my blood boils. Anyone who feels they’re the arbiter of what is an “age-appropriate” activity or pastime for someone else can fυck right the hell off with that garbage. Adults can make these decisions for themselves without the help of some аsshole who thinks he/she knows better.

    Load More Replies...
    Auntriarch
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have just had a cull of my books. It's Mr Auntriarch's turn next. He will cull his own books. It doesn't matter how unimportant they are to me, they aren't mine. And if the were from his childhood, if probably be making special little bags to protect them.

    Vinnie
    Community Member
    1 month ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Exactly. If someone has an issue with another's collection, tell them. Then compromise. The only exception would be hoarding and safety issues. My father was a hoarder, so the piles of newspapers and the rotting potatoes had to be sneaked out. I'm a bit of a hoarder, but aware and working on it. But the stuffed toy that my mother made - that stays!

    Load More Replies...
    Trillian
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Aside from the possible value, the sheer effing disrespect of taking something that is not hers and throwing it away because she thinks he should not have that is mind-boggling. He ist right to leave.

    Load More Comments
    You May Like
    Related on Bored Panda
    Popular on Bored Panda
    Trending on Bored Panda
    Also on Bored Panda
    ADVERTISEMENT