My favorite gift for moms
Real talk. For years I had an unbroken streak of ending Mother’s Day in tears. I’d start the day so hopeful that I would feel loved and cherished and maybe a little bit pampered, and once the kids started elementary school, I did start getting some sweet cards and homemade gifts, but the day never seemed to live up to my (perhaps unrealistic?) expectations.
I decided that I needed to take a more active role in creating a day that felt fun (for ME!) instead of letting my (very talented and well-meaning) husband take the wheel. I started dropping hints about what I’d like to do during the day, and where/what I’d like to eat, and what would really be an amazing gift from him and the kids. Actual VERBAL hints. Actually, not so much hints (because those don’t always get picked up) as flat out saying, “On Mother’s Day I think we should have a yummy brunch at Sage and Cinder (I’m so sad they’re closed now!) and then stop by to take my mom flowers, and all I want is to be IN some photos with the kids.”
Since I started taking a more active role in shaping my Mother’s Day, I’ve had some really great celebrations. I get what I need, Trevor doesn’t stress and end up giving me an air-popper, and I get some beautiful photos with my kiddos.
We all already know that moms are rarely IN the photos that document our families’ story. We’re the ones taking them! But I also know that when the kids are grown and moved out (or adulting from home still?) I’m going to want to see photos of us together and remember that they love me and see how cute they were and how cute I was back in the day. That’s right. When I’m 60, I’m going to think my 45 year old self was pretty hot, no matter if I was up a few pounds or if my crows feet are showing, or any of the insecurities that would make me pause before getting in a photo.
And my kids deserve to get to see their mama loving THEM in photos, too. Frankly, those moments are rarer and rarer as my kids get older, so making time to capture snuggles and hugs with them becomes even more precious. My oldest, Abigail, loves looking through our photo books and seeing herself grow up in front of my lens, but she has commented on several occasions that she wishes I was in those books more, too.
So this Mother’s Day, don’t be shy about being a little more transparent about your hopes for the day. Maybe you ask your partner to take some candids of you while you play outside with the kids. Or maybe you tell your partner that you’d really love a photo session with you and your kids done by a professional. In a studio. On April 23rd. Whatever you do, you deserve to be celebrated and catered to and showered with love. And if you need to be a little direct to make that happen, DO IT.
Here’s the link to book your Mama Mini session. Feel free to pass this along to someone who might need it.
