Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Photo Approval

I've traveled with toddlers and I've traveled with teenagers.  I always just assumed it would get easier as they got older.  It's the parenting myth we delude ourselves with in order to survive this parenting gig.  But guess what?  It's a lie.  A BIG FAT LIE.  Bigger kids equate to bigger problems.  And their clothes are also bigger, requiring more luggage we require they carry because they're big enough, but small minded enough to whine about it.  Oh, and when they were little?  They loved to get their picture taken.  Now, every shot requires their photo approval.  And that's if you can even get a picture of them to begin with.

I mean, you'd think they'd want photos of themselves on vacation for bragging rights or whatever.   Apparently not.  Because I had to beg for every single solitary photo opportunity.  And after making them walk all over sweltering Bangkok listening to them fight and beg for food every 5 minutes, begging them for photos got extremely exhausting, extremely fast. 

1.  Begging.


If you zoom in on the photo, you'll see the resentment and coercion all over their faces.  And this was just the beginning of the trip.

2.  Artistic Back Shots.


If they won't let me take a photo of them, I'll take a photo of their ungrateful little asses when they're not looking.  Which I also have in the photo, cause back shot.  Who knows?   Maybe this is their best angle.

3.  CIA Operative.


So they turned around and caught me taking back shots.  Forcing me to go all CIA operative on them.   In this covert maneuver, they're wheeling and dealing for some sweet souvenirs in the marketplace.  Together.  All team-like.  How come they can deal so well with strangers, but not their own siblings?

4.  Candid Camera.


No worries honey, I'm just taking a picture of the mountains out the window.  Oops,  I guess I missed the mountains entirely.

5.  Ants in Legoland.



All four of them are in this photo.  Somewhere.  You just might need a magnifying glass to see them.

6.  Making Stupid Faces.


Ok, I reverted to begging.  Again.  And even though I mustered up the energy to do it, at least one kid ruins it by making a really stupid face every time.   (Conversely, this is probably the most realistic representation of our family in photos.)

 7.  Selfies


While I can't take a photo of my kids with my camera, if I give the kids my camera they will selfie until they run out of memory and/or battery, whichever comes first.  Look closely, they are in fact riding an elephant.  I hope they have the zoomed out image stored away in their memories somewhere.
8.  The Approved Shot


It was near the end of the trip, when I got one photo approved picture of all the kids together.  It was a very precious minute and a half out of the entire two week trip where they all got along. 

 In other words,  it's not an accurate depiction of our vacation at all!  


And the kicker?  On the long journey home from vacation, one of my kids got on instagram and saw a family friend's photos.  "She takes such amazing photos of her kids!" Whhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaattttttttt did you just say?  Thanks Hillary.  

6 comments:

  1. Kids...they are all alike with photos.

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  2. I totally relate. My teenage daughter has forbidden me to zoom in...I get a bashing when I do. Who said teenagers were easier than toddlers? Not me...

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  3. Ha! SO my family, Marie! Getting the Christmas picture shot this year was such an ordeal. I think I may just re-use the old one from 10 years ago in which they were all lined up under the tree sitting in their (personalized) plastic toy bins. Or threaten to re-use it if they don't cooperate. Just finding a time when they are all AWAKE and present at the same time was a mission!

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  4. this is the most hilarious thing I've read all week. good to know there are still things to look forward to in parenthood!

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  5. #2 cracked me up! LMAO! And I really wonder what it is with young ones and the selfies??

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  6. Did you hear my sigh of relief? It gives me great pleasure to know that my kids aren't the only ones! THEY NEVER GROW OUT OF THEIR DISDAIN OF MOM TAKING THEIR PICTURE! 3 of my 4 are in their 20's. I'll set my camera on burst mode (camera clicks of 3 shots at a time), take 10 shots (= 30 pictures), and I'm lucky if I get one that's half way decent!
    So just be prepared that they never comply with having their picture taken!

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