Gone are the days of hiding photographic evidence of my existence. I’ve avoided taking photos with my girls, my husband, and many others. For years it has been like this. I would only go in photos if I had to. People often say “Oh, but you do not take a bad photo ever!”, but that is not how I feel. I have always been very hard on myself whenever I see a photo of myself. I’ve evaded capturing memories for a long time.
NOT ANYMORE!
Gone are the days of hiding my double chin, my mama body that’s covered in stretch marks and rolls, my super messy hair that often ends up tossed into a bun, the dark blue bags under my eyes, and so much more. No more hiding any of this! No more withholding how I look because I am not what society declares to be perfect. I have imperfections, and I am okay with that!
I want to be in the picture and a part of the memories that are captured. My oldest daughter has started to love taking photos, and we gave her my old point and shoot camera. She is often asking if she can take my photo, without hesitation, I always say yes. I know it will make her happy, and I want my daughter to see that I am confident in who I am. She is also always asking for me to take photos with her. I want both of my girls to get to look back at photos and see that I was there for different family events, for the day to day, and so much more. I don’t want to be missing, and undocumented from our life.
My girls will see me with and without makeup, messy hair and not caring, to being all dressed up for special events. They are going to see me. I am the woman who carried them both for 9 months, the one who has too many stretch marks to count, the one who has changed their diapers, and cleaned up all their messes. I am the one who has cuddled them when they have gotten hurt and held them til they fell asleep for the night. I am the one who got up multiple times during the night and was running on caffeine the next day just to stay awake.
I will be everywhere in their lives, and I am hiding no longer when someone wants a photo of all of us. I will be the one initiating photo opportunities, even if it means I have to take a selfie with my girls. My children will have many visual memories of me to look back on. When all is said and done, I will be there! No more hiding.
If you have Instagram I would love for you to join me in using #mamasinthephoto whenever you share a photo of you with your kids. Let’s all support and encourage one another! Don’t let anything stop you from saving memories by taking photos of you with your family.
Ha! Yes – my problem is I’m usually the one behind the lens. But it is sad that some women won’t allow pics unless they have their makeup on.
I LOVE This post and can’t wait to use the #mamasinthephoto hashtag on instagram!
I love this post Tamara, so raw and real. I think you are a gorgeous lady, momma and wife! Happy to see your smiling face in more photographs.
This post is perfect. Our kids don’t know body shame (yet!) so let’s not be the ones to show it to them. I take a lot of photos of us out and about doing things – sometimes it’s hard to be the photographer and be in the pictures too! My kids are just figuring out selfies but I have captured a few of them with my girls.
I’m visiting from the Grow Your Blog retweet thread. I have to read the posts before I retweet them and yours really spoke to me. Your writing style is great as well – easy to read and it flows nicely.
~Jess
Aw, love this! So so sweet. You deserve to be in those photos! You look so happy and beautiful. xx, E
Love this! You look beautiful with your beautiful smile! Love these pics!
This is amazing! Growing up I have memories of the women in my life hiding from the camera and then complaining and nitpicking every photo they saw of themselves. I don’t want to set that kind of an example for my future children. Thank you for sharing you heart! I love what you are purposing to do. 🙂
That is great for you. I cringe every time someone suggests they take my picture.
Adore this!!! And you two are so sweet!