Sentiment and Mothers’ Day Memories/DFW Family Photographer/ Terri Bahun Roanoke, Texas

“… we NEED to take the shot and remember”  – Bolta Nation

This thought means more to me on Mothers’ Day than most days in the year.  And even more so this year.  I am a mother, and a grandmother to one sweet baby girl (I know, dating myself!) and my first grandson is due this Mothers’ DAY.  Oh, the emotions are high.

You see, I’m lucky enough to have had an ENERGETIC AND FANTASTIC grandmother. Oh my I loved that woman and she breathed such life into the family;

a mother from whom I inherited half of the genes that would SHAPE me into who I am today and who LOVED ME AND WAS HANDS-DOWN MY BEST FRIEND, (we shared everything, from my silly broken hearts, to my own motherhood, her funny little ways- we blamed it on being Bohemian lol,  to all the crazy and zany);

and an aunt (7 years older than me- we played Barbies together, and have been thick as thieves ever since, a week doesn’t go by we haven’t talked) who feels more like my sister.  I don’t have sisters (only fantastic brothers) who gave me that unique relationship that transcends all your other relationships.

 

So you see I have matriarchs- I am a lucky girl.

My grandmother and mother are gone now, but what tangible thing do I still have left of them?  My memories most certainly are there!  But the question is ‘ what do I have to hold onto?’

I have photos.

My photos help me to remember.  They cause me to think about stories I may have forgotten.  I have hundreds of imperfect pictures in albums, boxes and set about the house.  They are tangible- I can hold them in my hands. Just like I will soon hold the hand of that sweet new grandson.  They are a treasure.

My mother inspired so many things in my brothers and I

 

 

My mother held me with that adoring feeling to me that I felt when I held my own babies

My mother was in Verdun France with my Dad when he was in the army. They drove this cute little Volkswagon. I am sure she was pregnant with me when these were taken

This is my exquisitely perfect grandmother who I adored

As an example of her positive outlook on life and her family, she was always smiling, and always had fun up her sleeve. Family sing-a-longs at her organ probably rocked her world

AND THIS is my aunt! She is a special gift given to me and my grandmother is responsible.  We were so close in age we played together. She tells me that my being born, thus making her an aunt at seven, was a highlight of elementary school!

The mothers that made my life complete.

My photos are my archive, the treasure to which I refer.

They illustrate where my life came from, how it started, continued and will certainly finish one day.

SO when you, mom, are darting away from IPhone range because you’re not dressed right, or you feel fat please don’t!  Let them take your picture!  Or, if you are the one who always has the camera, as I am, please hand it to someone and have them turn that camera on you.

Long after you are gone and your children become the stewards of the family’s stories your snapshots and photos will remain.  They will truly become the treasures that your granddaughters hold dear.  Make sure there are photos of you to hold onto!!!

They will live forward, speaking across generations saying, “I was here.  I mattered to someone.  I left a footprint.  I started the story of you.”

Mother/Daughter Bucket List/Keller and Southlake Family and Senior Portrait Photographer/Keller, Tx Photographer Terri Bahun

Just blink your eyes, and she goes from being two in Mothers’ Day Out to an 18-year old  Sorority pledge in a heartbeat!

I love my daughter, sweet Katy and my moments with her are my favorites.  I learned quickly to jump off the clown car of life and take time to savor what little time God has given me to be around her energy and her smile.

Being busy robs of us of our memories- literally.  I guess that keeps me in business:  nearly every mom I encounter looking to have a family session says the same thing, ” Our schedule is chaos.  I will call you when we all find a zip code that we can be together in!”  Consequently, I photograph plenty of families who meet each other coming and going!  And the testimonials are very similar, ” Thank you for taking a snapshot of this moment in time- we almost missed it”.

I just read a post from a blogger, Susan Merrill (www.susanme.com) who gave a really thought-provoking summary of what we should be making time for with our daughters before time steals them away to their lives.  I am giving you the link to her post, “Mother Daughter Bucket List”

If you are of the same mind as we are, give it a read.  It’s a good Friday project:)

 

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