In the seven years that I’ve been a mom, I have found some new interests, passions and ahem fixations. One of them being to find the best playgrounds in town.
I never used to worry about that before I had kids. Or, the finest pacifiers, best swimming lessons and kid friendly (read: loudest) restaurants. Nope. I never used to wonder about those either.
But some of my interests have stayed exactly the same. Eerily, oddly, obsessively: The same.
Chocolate, books and mojitos all fall into the still-as-interested-in-today-as-I-was-before-I-became-a-mom bucket. But photography is my main obsession that falls into this category.
Not in an artsy-fartsy, Just look at my fabulous pictures sort of way, but more in an, I think we might need another hard drive, sort of way because I take thousands of pictures – per month!
I’ve always been picture happy, partly because the introvert in me needs something to do in social situations besides, you know, socialize.
But mostly it’s the total and complete sap in me that sees candy coated moments for what they are – quick, fleeting, precious flashes that move so fast that before I can catch my breath, take them in and recover from the tender ache in my heart – they’re gone.
As I look through past photos I see that unsteady toddles of my once young children have become confident steps. Gummy smiles have become awkward mouths filled to the brim with big kid teeth. Belly laughs have become polite chuckles.
Just like that- gone!
So, when I’m in a moment that’s rich and deep in wonderful sweetness, I just want to scoop it up and keep it in my pocket forever and ever. And, be able to take it out and feel all of that heart-warming goodness all over again.
What I want to do is capture those moments. So I do. I take hundreds of photos at a time and store them in my pocket, or on my computer, for later.
Just this morning I scrolled through my photos expecting the usual awww-inducing sweetness. But instead, I was struck by a new thought as I looked through the photos, Damn, I’d be mad if someone took a picture of me like that!
My, my, my how times have changed! What strikes me today as perfect photo fodder, would have once made me cringe before becoming a mom. In horror. And annoyance. And embarrassment. And that’s what I’m thinking about today.
Pre-Kids and Post Kids Thoughts on the Photos Moms Take
5. Bathroom Shots
Pre-Kids: Um, hello?! Privacy please!
Post-Kids: Hooray! We’re potty training! Did you hear me?! POTTY TRAINING!!
4. Messy Food
Pre-Kids: I’m so mad at you and never ever talking to you again about that poppy-seed stuck in my teeth or that dressing on my blouse or that drink spilled just so on my pants! Hurrumph!
Post-Kids: Oh! That’s soooo cute! She just LOVES yogurt, chocolate pudding, blueberries, raspberries, peanut butter, frosting, etc! (OMG, this list can go on forever!)
3. Saying Good Bye to Things of Sentimental Value
Pre-Kids: Don’t you come near me with that camera! I have tears, poofy eyes and a red nose. Step away from my red nose.
Post-Kids: Oh, the memory! The moment! The fun! He’s such a big boy now! No more pacifier, crib or blankie. Sigh, sob, sniffle.
2. Sleeping
Pre-Kids: Seriously? Gross. The drool, the open mouth, the compromising position, the mismatched jammies. People, please!
Post-Kids: The open mouth, the compromising position, the mismatched jammies are all so darn cute! But for the record: The drool? Still not cute.
And as for my #1 change in photo attitude? Pictures from behind? Bathing suit shots? Oh no, friends, it has got to be:
Nudey Pictures
Pre-Kids: Um, can we say risque? What kind of girl do you think I am?!
Post-Kids: I love that tush! Just love it!
So there you have it. My photo sessions have changed – a lot – since becoming a mom. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. That’s what we moms do- shoulders back, chins up, tears wiped and cameras ready- because you just never know, there might be a bare tushy needing to be archived! Right now!
Until that tushy makes its entrance, it’s your turn. What are some of your favorite photo ops today, that before becoming a mom you wouldn’t have wanted to capture at all?
This is an original World Moms Blog post by Galit Breen. Galit can be found blogging at These Little Waves, tweeting at @galitbreen and right here at World Mom Blog at her previous posts The Things Moms Say and Mom FAIL Moments.
Photo credit attributed to Galit Breen.
I just love this post! Firstly I can so relate to this – I am always the one with the camera at family gatherings etc, which sometimes really annoy me as there are never any pictures of me, but at the same time, just as you say, it is a way to socialise! Secondly – your list is just so funny! I now take pictures of everything (just about, I still haven’t taken a frontal nude picture of the wee lad, at least not without a rubber duck or some bubbles to cover vital parts, his father insists, but apart from that everything is up for grabs – cute pictures of wee lad after eating, cute picture of wee lad carrying a ball, cute picture of wee lad carrying a toy car and so on and so on! I need another hard drive soon
I don’t have quite as many photos as you Galit, but yes my tastes have changed too. My top three photo opps recently:
#1. Cute little bums with fat little thighs above them.
#2. Whoops I’ve missed it, sports action photos.
#3. Yet another brilliant lego creation, with creator proudly beside – of course!
Hi Galin- I’m a mom-to-be in 7 months and am very eager to see how my photography will change as a result of it. Thanks for your fascinating insights. I appreciate having additional things to look forward to that help me get through this trying first trimester!
cute pic!!
Before becoming a Mom I used to hate taking pictures of the same thing more than twice or three times tops. But now, even a million photos of my kid are insufficient for me to document his growth 🙂
Great post !
I want pictures of me with my kids, no matter how horrid I look. Before, I would want to at least have run a comb through my hair before getting a photo taken. And I still may cringe at myself in certain shots, but I want to be in the photofrom Christmas morning, holding my toddler while he looks through his stocking, even though I am in my ridiculous holiday themed pj’s with hair askew and pillow creases still on my face. I want my kids to look back and not just see them, but the whole family sharing in the moment. That said, I make my husband take pictures of me whenever I am properly dressed and showerd to go out with adults because I also want my kids to remember Mom wasn’t grubby all the time.
Tara, the beauty of you sentiment is that your *kids* will want you to be in those shots too. My parents are long divorced but I treasure the pictures of us all together or me with either parent as a little kid; it somehow makes a fragmented world whole again. So as a second shout out to all those moms out there: BE SURE YOU’RE IN SOME PICTURES TOO! (oh, and don’t forget the dads)
My husband and I take many, many photos. A week away left us with 489 camera photos, more were scrubbed off for room, and 50 phone camera photos. We are huge shutterbugs. I was just looking at photos from when our son was born. It is amazing how much growing a baby and a toddler can do in 9 months. I haven’t changed in my photo thoughts or habits, just the subjects.
I LOVE taking pictures too. I’m the only one in my family that does it on a regular basis. I wish I did it more! I love bathtub shots, especially when my son and daughter are in the tub together. I try to make sure the shots are above the waist, or that bubbles are covering their privates because I don’t want them to hate me when they’re older.
OMG – yes yes yes to your whole list or pre- and post-kids thoughts on photos!
My latest fascination with photos is taking pictures of my youngest in outfits her big sister wore around the same age (I saved all the decent clothes our first born had). I get such a kick out of comparing! (And yes, I think we need a new hard drive too.)