I get it. I didn't fully get it until I became a mama.  I am here to tell you - take the photos. Be in photos. I do this professionally and the best, recent photo I have with me and my crew, is a selfie from last fall at a pumpkin patch.

I've seen it all - from tantrums (parents included), to nuclear blue lolli lips and temporary tattoos on cheeks (a brief PSA: stick to red lollies, and rubbing alcohol for temp tattoo removal), forgetting shoes, forgetting dad, forgetting snacks, to parents getting caught in trees - anything for a smile, em I right?!

Perfection is boring. If your son wants to wear a cape and the same holey sweatshirt that he asks to wear every day, with shorts, and it's winter, let him. If your daughter wants to wear a Paw Patrol costume with a tutu, let her. It’s not worth the fight. Wearing what they want to wear will make for genuine smiles and a fun experience for all. I promise no one will care if your shirt is off-white vs white in 20 years. If anything they will laugh at our hairstyles. Do I have any 80/90's kids here?  You get it.

I know it’s easier said than done. I spent a good two years attempting to get the “perfect” sibling shot/family shot of my own to hang on our wall and you know what…it wasn’t fun and our walls are still blank. There were tears and tantrums (this mama included). Embrace the chaos, imperfections, and the occasional selfie.

But where does this leave the moms and dads who want, “one nice family photo?” If you're still with me and haven't already hit up a new Google search for family photographers, we will get those images too. We have about 15 minutes of sitting still before we lose kids (and dads). I will make the most of that time. Trust me.