D Moms

I have countless photos of the girlies. I’m camera happy, snapping away like a mad woman hell bent on capturing the moment. But photos of me + the girlies? We’ll that’s an entirely different story… It’s pretty much zilch, zip, nada. So suffice to say, our lovely intern Caitlin’s wise words really hit home this week. Big time.

She’s an awfully smart cookie, that Caitlin.

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By Caitlin Adams

Since I began this series, I have let out quite a few belly laughs looking through photographs from my younger years. My brothers and I somehow manage to be fighting in every picture, and our summer trips strangely mirror the Griswold family vacations. I still tease my mom for rocking a fanny pack (although I do see their functionality for a mom with four kids hanging on each limb), and I don’t think I’ll ever come to terms with my bowl cut and crooked smile.

Does everyone love old photos albums as much as I do, or do I need a new hobby?

Although these walks down memory lane have been quite amusing, one thing has been disheartening; my mom’s absence in a majority of our childhood photos.

My mom was always caught up with snapping life’s little moments, but managed to leave herself out of those photos in the process. I can’t tell you how many Polaroid’s we have of me crying on Santa’s lap, or my brother’s science projects, but the ones of our entire family together are few and far between. Nowadays, some of my most treasured photos are the rare shots of my mom’s smile. Bonus points if I find a mother-daughter candid.

As moms, you juggle a family, career, play dates, and who knows what else, and I understand that jumping in front of a camera is the last thing on your to do list. There will always be another photo op, and another birthday party, right? Wrong. Quit thinking of what’s to come, and instead document the present.

Moms may cherish capturing their child on film, but guess what those grown-up children will hold dear years down the road? Pictures of their childhood, mother and all.

Therefore, I appeal to D Moms everywhere: get in front of the camera! Throw caution to the wind and be a part of these captured moments. Don’t worry about those circles under your eyes or unwashed hair, 20 years from now you won’t even notice, and isn’t that what Photoshop is for?

Next time you are snapping a family picture, take a moment and hand it off to your husband, neighbor, or the clown at your son’s birthday party. Throw on your biggest smile, say “cheese,” and snap those moments that will have you laughing (or cringing) for years to come.