As I scroll through my social media, I’m met with a flood of images featuring my kids and our adventures together. There are scenic nature shots, amusing memes, and quite a few pictures of that one tree I adore. But amidst all this, I find myself desperately trying to squeeze into a photo, often futilely snapping self-portraits that scream for attention.
If I want my children to remember me as something more than just the woman who handed out toast and chased them with a hairbrush, I need to be present in our family photo album. Selfies are often my only option. I want my kids to look back and see that I was an integral part of their lives—not just the woman who spent hours wiping down countertops or hiding in the bathroom with a chocolate bar.
Whenever I muster the courage to ask someone to take a family photo, it becomes a whole production. The eye-rolling begins, and I can almost hear the grumbling: “Oh no, we have to stand still and smile for five seconds?” It’s like a competitive sport to see who can act the most exasperated. I love my family dearly, but they can be incredibly frustrating at times.
Thus, I turn to selfies. Here’s Mom on a hike with the family. Here’s Mom in a random parking lot. Here’s Mom at the carousel. And look, Mom is trying again in the new van. I’m constantly with my kids, but aside from the selfies, there are hardly any pictures of us together. Moms often take on the role of memory keepers and magic-makers. I’m the one who organized the outings, packed the lunches, and found lost items so we could actually leave the house. I deserve to be in the picture!
And let’s be honest—I’m not a fan of taking selfies. I’m not particularly skilled at it, and it feels awkward. I’m not part of the millennial crowd; I often don’t know the right angles or filters to use. Usually, I just point my phone at my face and hope for the best.
So, please, someone, anyone, take my picture so my kids don’t think I had a face the size of North America! I want candid shots of us together—snuggling, laughing, and enjoying our time as a family. I won’t mind in 20 years that I wasn’t wearing makeup or that my hair was a mess. I’ll just be thrilled to see proof that I was there, having fun, and actively participating in their lives beyond just being the voice that told them to stop changing outfits all day long.
I know I’m not alone in this struggle. In the future, our kids might think we were always glued to our phones, begging them to smile while we snapped pictures. Let’s make a collective promise to capture more moments of moms enjoying life, because honestly, we’re not the best at taking photos of ourselves.
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In summary, I yearn for someone to take my picture, capturing those everyday moments with my kids. It’s not just about documenting our lives; it’s about ensuring my presence is felt in their memories in a way that goes beyond selfies. Let’s commit to taking more photos of moms, so they don’t become mere ghosts in their families’ narratives.