I love my daughter. As in desperately, heartachingly love her. I also think she is the most beautiful child God ever breathed breath into. I don’t say things like that very often. Not the love part, but the beautiful part. Mostly because I think my pride will jinx her somehow and she’ll end up in some kind of disfiguring accident. What can I say? I’m warped.
Anyway… back to the point. I LOVE her. I think she is beautiful. I think she is extremely photogenic. Also? I have her permission to write this post. You’ll see why in a second.
A few months ago Jodi sent me a text about Taylor’s school photo. She said it was the absolute worst school photo she had ever seen. I replied that Cady’s was worse.
Jodi: Not possible. This is the most awkward school photo ever.
Jennifer: It can’t be because Cady’s was.
Jodi: Beat that.
Jennifer: No problem. Cady’s is way worse.
Jodi: No way.
Jennifer: I can prove it. I’ll send it to you when I get home.
I knew hands down that I had her beat. Looking back I should have bet her something. I’m not a gambler. I was just that sure I would win.
Jodi: You win. It is no competition.
This is the single worst photo Cady has ever taken, and it is most likely the worst photo she will ever take in her entire life.
But it’s really no problem. She can always do retakes. Right? Wrong! When it came time for photo retakes I asked her to take these photos back to school and take new ones.
Cady: “Why would I want to do that? I LOVE that photo. I think it is the best photo ever.”
Of course that day when she went to school she actually DID take retakes.
Cady: “I did picture retakes today.”
Me: “WHAT?! Why didn’t you let me send the photos back? I could have purchased a new one.”
Cady: “Oh no. I don’t want a new one. I love that photo. I think it is the best photo ever. I just didn’t want it to be in the yearbook.”
Y’all, she is totally standing by these photos. She absolutely refuses to admit that there is anything wrong with it. That is the exact reason I’m writing this post. Because I want it on record that I begged her to not go to school with her hair like this. BEGGED. As in PLEADED.
So how did this happen? Well, my girl loves her some curly hair. I don’t blame her. I love curly hair too. The night before she asked me to curl her hair. We had used pin curls in her hair before, and they worked great. I didn’t think it would be a problem.
The next morning I took her hair down and started styling it for her. She freaked!
Cady: “MOM! You are messing it up! Don’t pull all of the curls out!”
Me: “Cady, you need to separate them. Just let me style it for you baby. I promise the curls will stay.”
Cady: “No! Just leave it alone!”
Those of you that have had a seven year old daughter will understand why I put down the comb and backed away. Before we left the house I made her promise she will not blame me in years to come when she looks back on this photo.
So years from now when she does question why I let her wear her hair this way, because we all know she will, I’m going to point back to this post and remind her that it was all her idea.
Have you ever taken an awkward school photo? I did in Kindergarten. My tongue was sticking out. I have no idea why the photographer didn’t catch it. What about your one of your children? Share them on my Facebook page so we can all laugh? commiserate? together.
So funny. Not knowing your daughter, I think the pic is actually kind of cute. She has a great little smirk on her face, and it seems like she has embraced a personal style in her hair.
I will just say thank you for being kind.
I’m laughing so hard right now. Not at the photo really but at the fact that she loves it SO much.
I had a HORRIBLE, SO MUCH WORSE THAN THIS photo my 3rd grade year. I would be too embarrassed for anyone to ever see it. Pretty sure Tim has never even seen it. AWFUL. TRULY AWFUL.
She totally stood by this. She is not backing down. I have to admire that.
In 4th grade, I had a bad pic, so I went for retakes and the 2nd picture was worse. The old ones had been returned.
In 8th, my mom got mad at me and cut all my hair off. The night before picture day. Just a tip: if your mom is a hairdresser, don’t ask her for a haircut when she’s on the phone. She might show you how to never ask for anything again.
My aunt was a hairdresser. I get where you are coming from with this.
In her defense, she went to treatment a couple of months later.
I wouldn’t have posted that. Accidentally hit send.
Is it bad that I think she looks cute?
Worst photo: first grade. I had a huge, red zit in the middle of my nose. AWKward!
She’s totally cute. This is still a REALLY bad photo. LOL
I actually kinda like it. I’ve seen other pictures of Cady so sure this one isn’t the best, but it’s not…awful. Not like the year both of my kids had missing teeth and the photographer told them not to smile (asshole) and so they both clamped down so hard it looks like they had rocks in their mouths.
Arnebya… It’s awful. LOL
Aww she looks cute! I totally have that awkward pic beat. My 9 yr went and did a Wooden soldier pose with the cheesiest smile ever. Even he admits it’s terrible.
I think she’s just stubborn. She knows it is bad (she won’t let me give it to anyone), but she doesn’t want to admit it.
School photos suck! Why do they do that to the kids.
I don’t know, but you are right. They are never great.
Jennifer, I love that you are the perfect mix of caring and nurturing, but also stepping back and letting the kids make up their own minds and blaze their own trails. I know – from experience – how hard it is to let our kids do the things we think they shouldn’t. but you are giving them something that’s truly their own: their decisions, their mistakes, their opportunities.
And I know this is a funny – no, HILARIOUS – post, but it totally speaks to what we all do as mommas. We give ‘em wings so they can fly on their own.
Exactly. I won’t let my children be the ones on American Idol making a fool out of themselves. Just as an example. I love them too much for that.
I still think she is adorable! Jodi’s daughter is as well… but is that a FINGER in her photo? As for my kids’ photos… well, “awkward photo” is the norm for them. They rarely take GOOD photos!