Mothers | Madison Family Photographer
Mothers.
Topknot hair day. Tired eyes. Makeup-less. Yoga pants. Again.
But my kids don't see that. They see me kneeling to zip coats, tie shoes, and examine the sparkly rock they unearthed from their secret mud spot. My cheek brushes theirs, and we may pause for an eyelash kiss. It's not that they don't see me; on the contrary, I believe they are wholly acquainted with each age spot freckle on my face, every speckle in my green-golden irises.
I take thousands of images of my family every year, and unless Charlie gets ahold of my phone to candidly catch me, I'm not in any of them. This gives me pause.
Most of my childhood memories are based on feelings first, followed by an image in my brain that looks like it's being viewed through a car wash window. Some have more clarity than others. So, it is such a gift when I come across a picture of my mother from that time--so crisp & real & lovely & warm & fuzzy. There aren't nearly enough of those gifts, and sadly, very few of just the two of us. I have some wonderful ones from my wedding, a couple from the last few years, but almost none from my childhood with just the two of us. That needs to change going forward. I need more pictures with my own mother, and my children need pictures with me.
What about you? Are you in your family pictures? I know you're there with them---you're making Star Wars pancakes, dotting toes with glitter polish, kissing wounded knees, packing lunches with little notes on folded napkins with XOXO, proofreading homework, filling the bubbly tub, reading extra bedtime stories, listening, listening, listening, and countless additional connections, tasks, activities, engagements. You're the cornerstone of the family; get yourself documented in those memories. If you can't do it for yourself, do it for your kids.
I'll be doing the same. Topknot, makeup-less, yoga pants, and all.
Look at all these gorgeous mamas getting in the frame. It's your wife's turn. Your sister's turn. Your mother's turn. Your turn. We see you, we absolutely see you.
Dig out those photos with your own mom, grandmother, aunt, sisters….
