03-11-15 The Mom Stays in the Picture

I read an article once where a woman wrote about how she hated the way that she looked and she always avoided being photographed. She couldn't get past her insecurities about her appearance. One day her young son found a photo of her on her phone and said something along the lines of how happy and pretty she looked. When she looked at the photo, she didn't see a beautiful woman... She only saw her flaws. But she realized that her son saw her differently. To him, she was the world. He didn't care if she was overweight, or had frumpy hair. She was beautiful. From that day on, she decided to let go of that insecurity and allow herself to be photographed. She understood that when her children were grown they would want to see their mother in their photos and they wouldn't care what she looked like. She was their mom. The mom stays in the picture. 

Three kids later, I have to say that it is hard for me to see myself in photos. Three pregnancies have taken their toll on my body. There are definitely days when I don't feel beautiful. My clothes don't fit the way they used to, my hair can be unmanageable, and my eyes can look so tired from a sleepless night.  But when I decided to do this 365, I told myself that the mom stays in the picture! I have been very purposeful in including photos of myself (even ones that make me cringe!) Because when my kids grow up, I want them to see that nothing made me happier than being with them!