“Wait, let me stand behind you”, “this isn’t my good side”, “can you hold the camera a little higher so you don’t see all three chins”. How many of us do this to ourselves? Or do you just stay out of the picture all together? If it’s not just right then we can’t put it on any social media, you know, because! Because they might see that you’ve gained 20 Covid pounds, you know 20 from the 30 you lost last year and everyone noticed. Because it might show that you’re trying to go natural with your hair color even after the salons opened. Because, Because, BECAUSE!!! It’s exhausting!
My daughter took a picture of me and my hubby playing with our granddaughter. She asked if she could put it on facebook or instagram as she showed it to me. I said yes because any picture of my grandchildren is just perfect in my book. She said that she wasn’t sure cause my hair was a mess and she knew how I felt about that. I am a hairstylist after all. Let me add that I was also in an super, baggy shirt that was less than flattering on me but I’m smiling! Loving and living the moment! Get in the picture!
A couple weeks later, while vacationing at the beach, I had another one of those moments. I was taking pictures of the girls with the babies and the sweetest two women approached us to tell us how beautiful the babies were. They were so sweet and very encouraging to the girls with lots of kind and uplifting words. Then one of them turned to me and said, “Please let me take a picture with all of you”. I of course started doing the, “Oh no, its okay, blah, blah, blah” junk that I would never let one of my girls get away with so I did it! It was a sweet picture, one that I will remember and cherish! Later in the week I kept getting in the pictures. When ever I could! Get in the picture!
I don’t have a lot of pictures of myself from when my kids were growing up. I was the one taking many of them as well as hiding from the camera. I will not make the same mistake with my grandbabies. My family will look back on these pictures with love and memories, not judgement of my hair or weight. I will look at these pictures differently too. I will see joy, love, and a life well lived. I will thank God for these gifts and pray that these children will always know how loved they are. I also hope my daughters will learn from me that they need to always GET IN THE PICTURE!!!
Jenni