It’s a familiar scenario for many mothers: they are the ones capturing countless moments of their families, yet when it comes to family photos, they often seem to vanish. I find myself behind the camera, snapping endless pictures of my children and their father, while family gatherings result in a slew of images featuring everyone else but me. If you were to flip through our family album, you might mistakenly think my cousin Melissa is the mother, given how many more photos she has with the kids than I do.
What’s going on here? It’s high time someone else picks up the camera, right?
Recently, the moms from The Laughing Mamas shared a comedic take on this very issue in a viral video, highlighting the absurdity of mothers being absent from family snapshots. Check out this one from our family reunion: there’s my dad, my grandparents, my aunt Nancy, and right by Uncle Jerry’s shoe is just a glimpse of my shadow.
Or how about this beach photo? You can barely see my reflection in Jamie’s sunglasses—now that’s a true family portrait!
It’s amusing, yet disturbingly accurate. We need to make a concerted effort to be included in these memories. How often do we find ourselves with little to no proof of our existence in our children’s lives?
There’s one where Lila is chuckling at something I said, so at least my voice is captured in that moment. A few years back, author Emily Carter wrote a poignant piece titled, “The Mom Belongs in the Picture,” which resonated with many. She said it perfectly: “I’m present in their lives every day, yet I rarely appear in photos with them. One day, I won’t be around, and I want them to have memories of how I looked at them and the love I had for them. I may not be picture-perfect, but I am their mother—and that is enough.”
Absolutely! Let’s step into the frame, moms.
If you’re interested in exploring the topic of motherhood further, check out this insightful resource on infertility and family planning at ACOG. And for those looking into home insemination options, you can find valuable information at this link about at-home insemination kits.
In summary, many mothers find themselves missing from family photos, often taking on the role of photographer instead. It’s a shared experience that emphasizes the need for moms to step into the frame and capture their own memories.