Losing my mother at a young age left a profound impact on my life, and I often find myself wishing I had more photographs of her. My name is Emma Carter, and I lost my mom to ovarian cancer at just five years old; she was only 37. The memories I hold onto are precious yet limited. I strive to remember her voice, her laughter, and the love she had for my sister and me. However, sometimes I question if my recollections are genuine or merely fabrications from childhood stories and my imagination.
I rely heavily on the few photographs I possess of my mother to keep her memory alive. Sadly, there are only a handful, mostly posed shots with only a few candid moments. These images are so valuable to me that if my house were to catch fire, they would be the first things I’d save, apart from my family. Now at 32, with a two-year-old son, I feel an increasing anxiety as I approach the age my mother was when she passed. The thought of leaving my child behind, much like she did, terrifies me. I worry that I may not leave enough behind for him to remember me.
Unlike my husband, who has countless photos and videos with our son, my legacy would consist mostly of selfies—some of just me, some with my son, and a few with my husband. There are hardly any candid moments or videos of me being a mom. To my child, I might just appear as a woman obsessed with filters, rather than the devoted mother I strive to be. He won’t have memories of our park outings or the experiences I created for him; he’s simply too young to remember.
A Call to Action for Parents
This is why I share my story: I urge you to ensure you are visible in your children’s lives. Get in front of the camera, even if you feel less than perfect. If something were to happen to you, your child wouldn’t care about those insecurities; they would want to remember you as you were, not as a filtered version on social media. While posed selfies have their place, I encourage you to provide your kids with more candid memories.
One of my most cherished photos of my mom isn’t from her wedding day; it’s a picture of her sitting on the floor, painting a chair. I love it because I see a reflection of myself in her focused expression. That image gives me a glimpse of her personality and helps me cling to the memories I have of her.
We live in a remarkable age filled with technology that allows us to capture moments effortlessly. I challenge all parents to take the time to have someone snap a picture of you with your children, whether you’re playing on the floor or enjoying a day at the park. And please, do not delete those photos just because they don’t meet your standards. Your children will appreciate every single one. Someday, these photos will be their only connection to you.
Resources for Parents
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Conclusion
In summary, capturing moments with your children is essential. You may not see the importance now, but your children will cherish those memories in the future. Embrace every opportunity to create lasting memories that they can hold onto when you’re no longer there.