The #MoreOfMom Initiative
We just recently got back from the beach for a trip to spread the ashes of my fiance's mother, grandmother, uncle, and his mom's dog. It was an incredible trip with family, fun & of course mimosas & sausage balls on the beach, a family tradition. This is a family built on laughter, love, booze & acceptance. This initiative is very much inspired by them.
I am currently going through the seventy bajillion photos I took on this trip alone (that will be another post in itself, I assure you.) I have always been a shutterbug so it's partially just in my nature, however, since becoming a mom and seeing my fiance go through losing his mom, I have made a bigger deal of it. Family photos. They are important.
I spent 15 minutes and a TON of anxiety to get this photo:
And while I love it, because it is so us, it's a hot fucking mess. We made Joss sit still so she is pissed off and crying. Declan saw a dog so he was starting to take off. Nick thinks he's so fucking funny, and I am a windblown mess (i had to haul ass over there and hope for the self timer gods to bless me because I only had one shot, one opportunity- Eminem, holla!) But it's the ONLY photo from our trip of all four of us together. So I am starting a personal initiative to get #MoreOfMom.
Most moms these days are so hands on in their kids lives and posting every photo they take of their little ones, and with smartphones and some bad ass cameras, it gets easier and easier. But how often do you see photos of moms with their kids? And of those, how many of them look like this?
They are selfies in the moments we feel decent looking and the kids are sleep- I mean cooperating. (Same thing right?) We need to change that. We need more moms in our photos.
Here's how you can help.
Partners: I know you probably get shooed away when trying to take a photo of your loved one, but do it anyway. You don't have to post it but maybe send it to her a few days later as a nice little reminder of how much they mean to you and your family. It's a very necessary reminder sometimes, because no matter how bad ass of a mama she may be, she needs to hear/see it from another point of view. Don't forget to take them of just you two as well, remind her she is still your partner, your love, and a woman. Candids, posed, random things that remind you of the incredible woman she is to your family: take them.
Moms: Keep taking photos of your family, you can never have too many. Keep taking the selfies when no one is around and in moments you want to capture, because they are just as special. But also, try to make an effort to get into more photos with your kids. Ask your partner to make more of an effort to capture moments or straight up tell them, "take our photo!" Try to get in front of the camera, no matter how you feel you look. "Sweats on, hair tied, chillin' with no make up on, that's when you're the prettiest," as Drake says. Yes, I just quoted Drake. But, take them.
Strangers: If you see a mom trying to corral her kids into a photo or using every silly face & prop within reach to get a smile, walk up to her, and ask, "Can I get one of you together?" Chances are she will be stunned, taken off guard & beyond appreciative. If she says no thanks, let her be, but keep asking whenever you see this situation playing out, because so many will say yes. So many will love the chance to be in a photo to remember the time by. Let's make a plan together to make the effort to take them.
And as much as the mom may appreciate and cherish these memories, she isn't the only one. A long time from now, when mom may be gone, the kids will be looking through their digital scrapbooks (props if you can get your shit together enough for real ones because I suck) and remembering their mom in that stage of their life. They will see & remember that shirt she always wore, or those earrings, or that necklace. They will see her & remember that smile, that trip, that birthday.
I have heard some people say before that they don't take photos because they would rather be in the moment and remember it that way, and I totally get that. But take just a few, it takes a second and could mean the world to someone someday. Try and help me out, you may see a pleasant result.
