As I scroll through my social media feed, I’m greeted by countless images of my kids and our family outings. There are scenic landscapes, humorous memes, and, oddly enough, a plethora of photos of my favorite tree. Yet, amidst all of this, there are just a few self-taken selfies of my desperate attempts to be part of the visual record.
If I want my children to know they had a mother—rather than just some woman who handed out snacks and chased after them with a brush—then these selfies are often my only ticket into our family album. I want to be visible in their memories, not just the person who frequently cleaned up messes or snuck away for a chocolate break in the bathroom.
When I ask someone to take a family picture, it turns into a full-scale production. Eye-rolling and complaints abound. Oh no, standing still and smiling for a few seconds? The horror! It’s as though my family members engage in a competition to see who can be the biggest nuisance. I love them dearly, but sometimes they test my patience like no other.
Thus, I resort to selfies.
Here’s me hiking with my family, capturing a moment.
Here’s mom posing with our new family vehicle.
Here’s a beach day selfie.
Here’s me, trying every possible angle just to be included in the frame.
Despite being with my kids all the time, there are hardly any pictures of us together unless I’m behind the camera. As the designated memory maker, I’m the one orchestrating our adventures, packing lunches, and ensuring nothing essential is left behind. I’m the one transforming ordinary moments into something special. I deserve to be in those photos.
And let’s be real; I’m not fond of taking selfies. I struggle with angles, filters, and finding the right pose. I’m not part of the millennial crowd and often feel like I’m fumbling through this. It’s usually just me awkwardly pointing my phone at my face, praying for a decent shot.
So, I plead with anyone out there—please take my picture! I don’t want my kids to think my face was as big as a continent. I want genuine photos of our lives together, capturing us as a family—snuggling, laughing, and having fun. I promise I won’t mind in twenty years if my hair was messy or if I wasn’t wearing makeup. I’ll just be thrilled to see a real photo of myself, one that wasn’t captured by my own hand. That’s me! I was there! I had fun! I did more than just yell at them about their ever-changing outfits.
I know I’m not alone in this. In two decades, our kids might think we were always glued to our phones, begging for a smile while trying to keep their tongues in their mouths. Let’s commit to capturing more moments of mothers because, let’s face it, we could use a little help in this department.
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In summary, let’s prioritize taking pictures of moms and ensure they have a place in the family narrative.