DS won't be hurt by it, but he will know who is family is and recognise them as someone important when he does see them next.

I make sure my kids see pics of their cousins and aunts regularly - mainly cos we are a pretty big family scattered across the state. We only see them once a year and I don't want that one time to be awkward with a bunch of strangers iykwim?
ITA.

I think it's a lovely thing to do.

Can your DH go for custody? Like weekends or something. As long as you can provide for them the courts will award some kind of agreement in your favour. Mothers can't just stop all contact for no reason.