Dear Mommas,
Do you ever catch yourself thinking about first day of school pictures in July? Omg the sign, the smiles, the clothes, do I do the fancy sign with my kids grade, what they want to be when they grow up, their favorite color?! Or just the changeable felt letter board sign? Do I do a chalk board? What about my handwriting? How’s my front door look?
Let’s all rewind back to 1995. Mom snaps kids picture of them with backpack on in front of the front door. Mom gets it developed and puts it on the fridge. Six months later it’s in a scrap book for eternity.
Y’all, if you aren’t a Pinterest mom… fear not. Put the elaborate “first day picture signage” guilty conscience down, and walk away slowly.
Fact: You don’t have to do all the fancy things.
Fact: kids don’t care.
Fact: it won’t affect their future.
Fact: they’ll actually survive if you don’t make a big deal about it.
Fact: it’s not a competition for cutest first day pictures.
If you’re an Amazon momma like me, step in and sit down.
Here’s my go to for first day pictures:
1)First off, don’t worry. These are for you and only you. Okay, maybe for grandma and your dad’s Aunt CiCi 1,000 miles away. But that’s it, I promise.
2)Let your kids pick out what they want to wear the night before. Yes, I said it. What THEY want to wear. You won’t die. Promise!
3)On the way out the door. Backpack on. Casually say, “Hey why don’t I take a pic real quick so we can see how much taller you are at the end of the school year.”
Boom. Mic drop. No argument. It’s not about the picture anymore. There’s no fight. Snag a smile. They’re thinking about how tall they’re going to get this year. You get a classic, front door picture you can print and put up or share for friends and fam to see how cute junior is.
It’s a no pressure, no hassle, no stress, no extra signage involved, and everyone’s happy. Document and move forward kinda morning.
And hey, if you really MUST know. On the way to school, feel free to ask what they want to be when they grow up and throw it on your social media post and call it day!
I promise Mommas, in the age of feeling like you have to keep up. This is NOT one of those things you need to worry about. No judging if you have the fancy sign and the perfect pictures. More power to ya.
But for the love, if you aren’t that mom… sit down, pour another cup and put your feet up. Cheers to another year and a few moments to take a deep breath and pat yourself on the back. But please don’t put 5 more seconds of thought into the picture.
Snap it and go!
Fancy picture or not, You’re doing great momma!
