in May, you may remember when I commiserated over the lack of grandmother photos in my possession. I'm assuming I'm not the only one in this boat. ?
Recently, I came across a blog post on the same subject. This time focusing on mothers. Me. You. Click on the link and read the italicized note. About a mother who made it a point to get pictures of herself with her children often. We shouldn't shy away from the camera and she explains, "to use excuses about how we look, as women, is ridiculous, since our children will never care what we looked like, but only that we had physical evidence of the bond between mother and child."
I whole-heartedly agree. I love these pictures of my mom and me together.
And I know that she would look at them and comment on her hair, her pregnant belly, or the fact that she just gave birth. (Sorry, mom. I know you too well!) But I think she is beautiful. It gives me a glimpse into a time, a mom, a face that I can't remember simply because I was too young. And it is evidence of time spent together, of time & effort spent for my benefit (even when I was making grumpy comments moments before the picture was taken -- upper right), and evidence of a bond.
Bottomline, put worry about looks aside and get in the shot. Easier said than done, right? :)
Secondly, we all know that moms don't get in the pictures because we are the ones behind the camera. {Raising hand high}. I try to fix this by handing the camera over to Scott (or the kids) and saying, "I want proof that I was here." They are usually happy to oblige. I just have to be happy with the results. That automatic 10-second timer also comes in pretty handy.
On our recent trip to California I tried to put this into practice.
More than the physical, photographic proof that we leave for our kids . . . there is the in-the-thick-of-it, day-after-day, being there, loving proof that we are mothers who respect and treasure the responsibility that we have been given. I've long appreciated these words by Elder Holland and was delighted and touched to hear them again in this segment for and about mothers.
That says it all. And take a few pictures along the way, too.
