Souvenirs

Souvenirs of the heart

Pictures of the kids flood my phone, my computer, my Facebook, my Instagram. How about you?

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But why are there so very few with me in them? As a matter of fact, when I creep my friends albums they are missing from most of their pics with children, WHY??

Why don't moms and dads join in the pics?

Maybe its because our hair is a mess, we don't have our make-up on (because why would I want to waste my make-up to sit around the house), I don't have time, this shirt isn't my color... blah blah blah

Our lives are so involved with the kids everyday- cooking, laundry, help with homework, fixing their hair, painting nails, cuddling, playing sports, riding bikes, playing games, tickling, reading, etc...

We have pics of them doing many of these things but we don't get in the picture!?

We need, they need, and their children need pictures of us TOGETHER!!!

I remember my mom laughing, tickling, making silly faces, playing Monopoly with me even though she didn't particularity like it, going to Sea World (there used to be Sea World in Ohio), going to Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus.  I remember her soft hands, leaning on her to watch a movie, doing crafts with her.  I remember wrapping my arms around her soft not perfect body for a hug and loving every bit of her!!!

I remember my dad always letting me sit on his lap, going to the Lamp Post, taking me for rides on his Harley. I remember that even though my parents were divorced they were great friends, that my dad always took me out for his favorite meal (liver and onions, "cuz it makes you grow hair on your chest"), we never parted ways without a hug and kiss, because your NEVER too old or too big for a hug and kiss. I remember he had the best hugs because his arms were so long that they wrapped all the way around me and I felt like I sunk into his chest, it felt so comfortable and safe I stayed just a little longer then other hugs!

Sadly, there are so few pictures of us together that most of those are my memories. So unless my children decide to share the stories I tell them, my memories will die when I do. 

I want to change that pattern for my kids! 

I will take pictures looking a hot mess because they don't mind how I look. They actually see a completely different version of me. And they will have photos to help them remember all that we do together one day.

We are so important to our kids, just as they are to us. If we LOVE taking pictures of them, doesn't it make sense that they would love pictures of us??

If I could, I would take 100's of pictures of my parents.  

Please join me and make yourself a promise to jump into more pics with your kids so they have those memories and a souvenir to help them share the memory.
 I challenge everyone to jump in more pics starting in 2013. Share this post, and invite your friends to join in the challenge as well!!
For all my fellow Instagram and Twitter users we have created a hashtag just for this challenge
#beinthepic

Your thoughts?