Ok, let's have a little heart to heart about something that I am pretty passionate about; Mom's - your kids want pictures OF you AND with you. For lack of a better way to say it, get in the damn picture. 

Let's break this down, shall we? It always boils down to these few reasons why we don't have pictures of and with mom.

"I need to lose a few pounds, don't like my hair, yada yada.."

This is probably the number one reason people put off taking professional family pictures - and even snapshots of their life for that matter. They aren't happy with their appearance. I'm not saying that you should love your body 100% of the time. There are times I don't, (let me tell you about that 41 week mark in pregnancy, or heck, even after birth. Things are not where they should be and I feel like a distant relative of Jabba the hut.) Your kids don't see your flaws, what they do see is a lack of pictures with them. They don't care what you look like or that you aren't back to pre baby weight, what they care about is having fun with their moms and being able to share memories through photographs.

Mom is taking the picture.

I am guilty of this. It's so hard to step back and remember to hand off the camera to someone else - especially when my kids are acting like kids and it's just faster/easier to get my picture of them in their Halloween costume and be on our way. But I was there! I don't want to accidentally write myself out of my own family history. Make sure you ask someone to take your picture, or even better yet, have a chat with your significant other to take more pictures of you, candid and the like. 

This last weekend my grandpa passed away. Suddenly, all I had left of him besides memories were photographs. I poured through family albums, scanning them for any and all pictures of him I could find. I had family reach out to me, asking if I had any pictures of them with grandpa. Suddenly, it didn't matter what I looked like, all I cared about was finding pictures of my grandpa and I together. 

I've heard of similar stories of people losing their moms and only having a handful of pictures of their mom because she didn't like getting her picture taken. 

There is no such thing as a perfect picture, until it's the only picture you have left. 

Your kids want pictures with you. Your kids want pictures of you. 

In their eyes you are a beautiful, superwoman, who gives the best hugs and makes them feel safe. You care for them, love them, help them to grow. You are their first memories, they want to keep those memories - to be able to share them with their kids. Not every picture has to be "social media worthy" - heck, it doesn't even have to end up on social media. It can be a special, intimate moment that you keep for yourself and your kids. 

As we navigate this holiday season where much of the focus is on family, get in the picture. Be apart of your own history. Don't let excuses pile up and avoid the camera the second you zero in on it. Do it for your family, and get in the damn picture.