School pictures. One always wants to look their best — and for parents of young kids, the quest to get their child camera-ready can be a challenge.
Reading a recent article on Huffington Post about a mother’s quest to mold and groom her daughter for picture day, I was reminded of my preschool photos — and the mild drama that preceeded them.
Headstrong and defiant, I insisted that I wear my favorite shirt: a top with four little sheep and an ugly, yellow stain.
Of course my mother put up a regal fight, but in the end she gave way to my fashion sense and let me go to school wearing what I wanted. Today, when I asked her why, she said, “You were persistent!!!!!!” (six exclamation marks included). She added, “I wanted you to be happy in your picture. And you were. Cute even.”
Spoken like a true mother. I love that woman!
Confession: when the pictures were finally printed, I was disappointed that my mother was right — you could actually see the stain (oh, the mind of a four-year-old!). But those sheep sure looked pretty. Overall, I was happy with my attire, and knowing I dressed myself that day, albeit with a stained shirt, it gave me a sense of confidence.
To this day, I love that story — and I love my mother for being willing to let me go to school in a ratty, old shirt on picture day. I was four. And a kid. Not a model. Not a toy doll my mother could mold and manipulate into being a miniature replica of herself.
I’ve since graduated to wearing non-soiled clothes (unless of course the stain is in a inconspicuous spot — full disclosure, okay?). Besides, clothes don’t make the person, the person does.
For Huffington Post blogger Shannon Bradley-Colleary, pigtail braids are the signature of her tomboy daughter — something she’s now accepted, something she’s even proud of.
And speaking of hair, that reminds me of the time I rode my bike to the salon and told the hair stylist to give me a buzz cut and a rat tail.
True story. But that’s a blog for another day…
For now, I want to hear your stories about when you or your kids defied culture and society and did/wore what you wanted. Leave your comments in the section below.