Drop the Camera, Ma’am, and Back Away Slowly
By Glinda
The Munchkin and I went to visit family this past long weekend. And hey, no carsickness after a seven hour car trip, whoo-hoo! It’s the little things, my friends, the little things. I really don’t ask for much in life. No vomiting, some chocolate once in a while, enough sleep, perhaps a nice long shower, and all is good.
Anyhoo, my aunt recently bought a trampoline. I have no idea why, she just did. Not just any trampoline, a big sucker that practically screamed “I’m fun!” It also screamed “I can give your five year old a major concussion with just one false move!” but that’s probably just the mom in me.
So my son was bouncing and yelling and throwing koosh balls and generally having a grand time. My first reaction? Where the hell did I put that camera? Run and grab it and make sure you get these precious moments of your son bouncing on a trampoline that can never be duplicated!
I have a feeling that many moms think the same way. Is something cute and funny going on? Must. Get. Camera. Must. Record. For. Posterity. Otherwise, our kids might think we didn’t love them or something if there is no photographic proof that fun was had! A lot of fun! See? Can’t you see how much fun you were having?
But how many moments have we missed actually sharing those times with them instead of having the camera in between our children and their experiences? Exactly how many memory cards and folders must be filled to show our kids what a wonderful time they were having?
I am behind the camera so often, I often think my son will scratch his head years from now and wonder where I was his whole life. Because I am never in any pictures with him, I am so busy taking them.
So after a couple of minutes, I got onto the trampoline with him.
Pictures, schmictures.
February 19th, 2008 at 9:54 am
I LOVE jumping on the tramp! It always makes me laugh breathlessly and feel like a kid again. Love. It.
My husband makes a point to take pictures as well and include me with the kids because I once complained that my daughter would look back on her childhood photos and think she was motherless.
I like to take a lot of pictures because I don’t have very many from my childhood. I was the last of three kids right in a row, and my parents were so over all that photographing by the time I came along. Plus, taking and developing pictures was much more of an inconvenience back then, so it didn’t happen as often. Nowadays, my daughter inherited one of my early digital cameras so she can take pictures of her and her friends.
February 19th, 2008 at 9:55 am
I LOVE jumping on the tramp! It always makes me laugh breathlessly and feel like a kid again. Love. It.
My husband makes a point to take pictures as well and include me with the kids because I once complained that my daughter would look back on her childhood photos and think she was motherless.
I like to take a lot of pictures because I don’t have very many from my childhood. I was the last of three kids right in a row, and my parents were so over all that photographing by the time I came along. Plus, taking and developing pictures was much more of an inconvenience back then, so it didn’t happen as often. These days, my daughter has inherited one of my first digital cameras so she can take pictures of her and her friends.
February 19th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Good for you, Glinda! I am constantly taking pictures, and need to remember to take your advice and get in on the action too.
February 19th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
I can’t wait to blog about this!
Oh, hang on…
February 20th, 2008 at 7:46 am
Awww.. what a great thing to remember. I’m one of those sad moms who has taken photos of my son EVERY SINGLE day of his life. And not many have me in them.
February 20th, 2008 at 9:08 am
Glinda you are so right about this.