Woman finds her grandparents printed every childhood photo of hers — and we’re ugly crying

People have different ways of expressing love — some show it through words, others through routines or small gestures that become part of everyday life. But the approach Riley Fauria's grandparents' took stood out years later, when she discovered exactly what they had been saving — and why it mattered more than she ever realized. Fauria, a 24-year-old from Hawaii, shared a short Instagram reel on her page @rileyfauria revealing stacks of printed emails from her childhood, including not just the messages, but the photo attachments her parents used to send.

In the caption, she explained, "Just found out my grandparents printed out every single picture my parents emailed them of my siblings and me over the years, and they saved every one of them." Fauria told Newsweek, "There were literally years of emails and photos that they had saved and printed of us." The photos span her early life and those of her siblings, showing moments big and small. They were sent long before family photos were posted daily to Instagram or backed up automatically to cloud storage. This kind of effort may feel rare in the digital age, but it reflects something researchers dug into in a 2011 study. It explored how photo-based narratives help maintain emotional closeness between grandparents and grandchildren, especially when living far apart. 

The study found that these images often act as emotional bridges, allowing families to feel more connected despite the physical distance. "They lived in Hawai'i and we were living in Massachusetts at the time, so they watched us grow up through these pictures that were being sent," she explained. "They never failed to tell my siblings and me how much they loved us, but to see a tangible act of love was overwhelming." That sense of closeness hasn’t faded with time; Fauria now lives with her grandparents and sees them every day. "We share all our meals together, and even work together — my papa is my boss at work," Fauria detailed.

Her video struck a nerve with others who had similar experiences or longings. @franmcc58 wrote, "You won’t know what it’s like to be a grandparent until you are one. It’s the best feeling in the world." @lindapbee commented, "I do that. Now every time my grandchildren post on Insta, I copy the photo." @tiger.9383554 added, "I am a great grandma. I have printed every photo of our family. Now my granddaughter is doing it for her new family." @fourgirlsgentry shared, "Please cherish your grandparents! I would give anything for my girls to have that experience." @smashley_traines pointed out, "Your grandpa went big bucks on the printer for that quality of a printout then."

Reflecting on the viewers' reactions, Fauria said, "I think it strikes a nerve and makes people miss their own grandparents or reminds people of how they feel towards their own grandchildren." She added that her 'papa' has taken on a guiding role in both her personal and professional life. As she learns to help run their family business, he’s the one mentoring her through it. Her 'mimi,' she said, has always been the most generous person she knows. 

You can follow Riley Fauria (@rileyfauria) on Instagram for more vlog-style content.