I love taking photos of my kids. I love watching them awkwardly smile. You can just see them say between gritted teeth, “Is this wide enough, mom??” And truthfully, they are really thinking, “Is she almost done, because I am bored!”
I love taking pictures even though I am not a photographer by trade…or even by hobby. I’m a poser with a great camera that does all the technical work for me. But I am grateful because the image freezes a moment forever. A moment I want to remember because I know one day I won’t.
And let’s be more real…because one day, my two “babies” will think holding hands is gross, and this is how cooties are transferred. One day they will walk by each other on the high school campus and pretend the other doesn’t exist. One day they will want to do anything else other than be with their family. And when that day comes, I will get to look back at this simple photo, and remember, they DID love each other…and as a mama knows, they still do, deep down inside.
Then I’ll run right out to the drug store, print a 16 x 20 copy of this picture, frame it, and hang it in their bathroom!! HEE!
I’m not sure I can totally explain the journey of motherhood to anyone who is not yet a mom. Because there is a transformation that happens the moment you hold your newborn after delivery. It’s almost as if the “Mama Fairy” appears, waves her magic wand over you, and POOF…your whole world shifts on its axis!
Instead of taking pictures of places, random people, and extraordinary experiences, you find yourself capturing the simple moments of feet, hands, sweet smiles, with the backdrop of the living room littered with toys, disheveled cushions, and tons of love!
This is proof of the shift. The shift of what is important. The shift of what is priority. The shift of what motivates. The shift that now inspires.
For these two “little” hands, at ages 9 and 6 years old, have inspired me to be the best mom I can be. To fight for them, to stand up for them, to guide them, to lead them, and to ultimately love them for exactly who they are!
So, warrior mamas, here you go! Off to chase the pitter-patter of feet, to clean up messes a thousand times over, to put yourself second or third or fourth behind your babies, and to love love love beyond what you thought was ever capable! Welcome to the shifted-universe club!!
xoxo!
R
PS: Just in case you hadn’t noticed, Erin and I have a “couple” of videos posted on our YouTube Channel known as InBetweenFriends. (You’ll laugh when you see what we consider a “couple”.) Click on this link to jump over to the fun! http://www.youtube.com/user/inbetweenfriends?feature=results_main Love!!