sisterhood stories - she left proof...

I hate having my picture taken.
Hate.  It's a strong word but it fits.

I don't like the way I look.  I'm overweight.  I wear the same jeans and t-shirt almost every day.  I rarely put makeup on.  My hair has been in a permanent bun/pony tail for the last year and a half.  I have wrinkles and dark circles under my eyes.  I always look exhausted...because I am.  I don't want to remember myself this way or for anyone for remember me this way.  Therefore, I just stay of the pictures.  If I happen to make it in one of them I just delete it.  I am very happy with this arrangement.

Until...I heard about this mother...

“Many scrapbookers knew Aleida Franklin. She was a wonderful wife and mother and a brilliant artist. I didn’t know Aleida personally, but she taught me something I will never forget.

She emailed me last year to tell me she loved my blog and to ask if I liked my short hair-cut. This lead to a series of emails which eventually led me to remark that I really loved how often she posted pictures of herself with her children on her blog. And she replied to me, “Have you ever seen a photograph of your own mother and thought to yourself how fat she looked? Or how she wasn’t wearing make-up? Or wasn’t dressed in a glamorous outfit?” Of course my answer was no.

She then responded with saying that she made it a goal to take a picture of herself with her children at least once every month. And that to use excuses about how we look, as women, is ridiculous, since our children will never care what we looked like, but only that we had physical evidence of the bond between mother and child.

Aleida tragically and unexpectedly passed away in an auto accident in September of 2008, leaving 2 small children and a grieving husband. After she passed I thought of how those children must feel to have those precious photographs. I have made it my personal goal to follow her wise suggestion and I try to take photos of myself with my children….double chins, make-up free, bed-head and all.

I invite Mothers everywhere to take Aleida’s Challenge. To photograph yourself with your children each and every month. And to post them here so that we can see Aleida’s legacy unfolding.”
(this is from Aleida's Challenge flickr group written by Emilie Ahern) 

 

Aleida and her daughter 

Isn't it true so true?  We are usually the ones behind the lens.  But, us being behind the lens doesn't tell the whole story.  The part that shows we were a huge part of the memories and moments even though the pictures don't show it.   

I only have a handful of pictures with my mother when I was little.  I cherish these photos.  When I look at the photos I don't notice whether she has makeup on, if her hair was done, or what her clothes looked like (ok, I do notice the sweet polyester pants but, I'm not judging).  I do notice that she is smiling.  She is happy to be holding me.  She loves being my mother.  She loves me.  And that is what I want my children to remember.  The love.  There's lots of it.

We never know when our last day with our loved ones will be.  We need to live each day to the fullest, and I know this is easier said than done.  We (the ones with the cameras) are the family historians, the memory keepers, the capturers of moments.  So, ladies what do you say?  Will you be brave with me and get in front of the camera?

To get us started here is a free photo checklist from Rebecca Cooper's blog.  I love how she encourages us to capture the real everyday moments with us in the photos. 

So get out your camera phone, or set your camera timer, or set up your tripod, or schedule a professional session, or give the camera to someone else...just get in the photo and be a part of the moment.  Years from now we will thank ourselves and so will our loved ones.

Here's my perfectly imperfect photo with my kids...thanks to my husband for taking the photo...

Follow the sisterhood stories blog circle by following my friend Siegrid...

xoxo,
Kristi