I am your Mama
Mother's Day. Each year has a different feel to it and this year did too. A calm, welcoming feel. A "no big deal" with a genuine love for this phase of motherhood. We spent our entire day in a gym. Running from one basketball game to another and so many moms made the sarcastic comment of "exactly what all moms want on mothers day...right..." and it felt wrong to answer any other way than how I truly felt which was "actually, this is exactly how Id like to spend my Mother's Day." Watching our children from the sidelines doing what they love. I truly wouldn't have it any other way.
For Mother's Day this year I asked the kids if they would do a little photoshoot with me. To be fair, it was mostly to advertise for an upcoming mini photography shoot I wanted to do to bring in some extra cash but what I got out of it was maybe my most favourite photos of all time. Brian took them for me. My entire vision came to life and I will cherish these photos forever!
They are fun and silly and serious and capture each of us perfectly. I love being their Mama.
Actually though... how did we get so lucky. I often think about how I will never get this days back and although that sounds... almost sad... it mostly makes me want to soak in every drop of life with them in this phase, right now. I will never get these bleacher days back.. so I will attend every single game. I will never get these late night carpools and pickups back where I hear about how their night was in real time, so I will pick up at midnight every single time. I wont always get these couch cuddles during a show or a movie, so I will put my phone away and cuddle in, every single time. Because I know, when this phase is done, I want to look back and say "I soaked in every last drop" and feel content and happy, even if I always wish I could re-live it one more time.
Being their Mama is the greatest part of me!
Today, I must also give credit to my Mom. She was handed some serious trials as a young mom and she crushed every bit of it. She did her very best with the circumstance she had. A big part of who I am today is because of my Mom. For Mother's Day we did these photos with her too. My sister, my mom and I. I will also cherish these photos! Like, how cool is it to get to have these photos with your mom. Both adults, time is passing and I will get to cherish these pictures forever. What a beautiful simple treasure to have. I love you Mom!
Not only did I have an amazing mom but when I married Brian, I got an amazing Mother-in-law too.. but really I just call her "mom" because to me, she is absolutely my 2nd mom. She is there for us, loves us fiercely, supports us, prays for us around the clock (!!) and I genuinely just feel like one of hers. She has never ever made me feel like an in-law. I adore her. I am so proud to be apart of her family. We took Mother's Day photos for her too this year. Just her and her 4 big kids. On the very first pose when I said "everyone look at mom.. and mom, you look at them" she turned her head and smiled and with the sweetest voice said "you're all so big! You used to be so little!"
It's not very often you get to take pictures of you and your adult children when everyone is married with their own little families and being able to do this for her was really special for me (and I think her too!)
