You cheered your heart out from your squated position in the dirt behind the fence.
Screamed your face off like each one of those 21 games this week were the playoffs.
Maybe you had to think hard about whether your tank top had been washed before you threw it back on, but you showed up.
You showed up not because it was your job to, but because it matters- because this is your heart and soul. Being a baseball mom is both exhausting and the most beautiful privilege, so yes, you ALL deserve a place to celebrate and be cheered on.
I was absolutely obsessed with this session. It was supposed to be a Mother’s Day shoot, but a little round of Covid and a broken arm threw us off our game. It had been awhile since our last milestone session together with the boys, and as soon as we settled on the baseball theme, I knew we had to get mom in on the game.
Let me pause here to gently nudge you in the right direction or give you permission in case you need to hear it…YOU DESERVE TO EXIST IN PHOTOGRAPHS TOO! I mean, you have earned it! Baseball Moms be out there in the stands surviving the heat by day and scrubbing dirt out of those baseball pants at night. You are killing it! We see you, and we love you! (P.S. you are strong, beautiful and worthy of showing up!)
And, really big cheers to the mom who still celebrates milestone sessions for their kids even as they prepare to enter their tween years! I always see a huge drop off in my yearly clients as their kids creep towards those middle school years, and I have to be honest here-
THIS IS WHEN THEY NEED US THE MOST!
This is when they need to be celebrated.
This is when they need to be reminded that they belong and have a beautiful place on the walls of their home, their safe place.
This is when we should lean into showing them just how amazing they are and just how loved they are.
Heck yes, the road gets bumpy in a whole new way. Yes, they start reaching out for a bit for independence. But they also start losing their individuality in pursuit of fitting in with everyone around them. They start questioning friendships, their role in the family, who they really are, but that is when we stop, take a deep breath, and remember they still desperately want to be seen, heard, understood, and cheered on...and that will never go away!
Not only should tweens and teens have incredible photos that make them feel and look amazing, but they should also have images that show their interests and personality. Photo sessions with your growing kids doesn't have to be stressful. Let them grab what they love. Don't stress about the bruises and scratches and messy hair. Let's celebrate who they are now. You will never regret pouring into them in this way, because it always goes by way too fast, and it will give them all the confidence they need to see themselves as the incredible human being you raised them to be! Way to be amazing mom!