As you can see and if you have followed this blog over the past year you know, i have joined a circle of incredible women and am forever grateful to be a part of this. these women speak my language. they FEEL every moment of their lives, the good, the bad, the frustrating and the so happy you can’t catch your breath ones. AND THEY SHARE THEM. these letters will move you through a range of emotions and be prepared if you are like me and you cry at songs or commercials you will prob shed a tear to two. As you will see our lives are so very different and so very awesome in our own ways, in fact we are located all over the world..but we all share one simple common thread, we love our baby girls with every ounce of us. and after all i can’t imagine a better thing to share.
please take a moment to follow the circle…just HOP ON OVER TO MY SWEET FRIEND SARA TEGMAN PHOTOGRAPHY of ST Louis she is for sure the most soothing calm mother i have ever “met” and her beautiful daughters will slay you.
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My lovely little ladies…
Last month i wrote to you about life’s lessons i hope to teach you along the way, as we move forward on this journey together…THIS MONTH i want you to know what you are teaching ME! Our days and nights…our moments, are so intertwined and are paths became one the moment we became one, and you have taught me so much along the way. For as long as i can remember i knew i was meant to be a mommy, when daddy and i decided we were ready to grow from just a couple to a family, i read every book, every blog, every how to forum. what no one tells you is that there is no possible way to KNOW HOW to be a mommy. That is the best and scariest part of it (period). every mommy is different, we are all perfectly imperfect in our own ways. When you came along, cheeks #1, we were sooooo ready, so prepared and giiiiiirl…well YOU ROCKED OUR WORLD! but we found our rhythm…and just about that time…cheeks #2 you came right along and completed us. our routine, our rhythm, well yeah we had to find our way again. and we did. but the funny thing is, everyday brings the unexpected, it bring new experiences and new moments AND A NEW RHYTHM. and that is lesson number one…JUST LET GO and enjoy the fall.
Being a mommy means YOU ARE MY WORLD and i have to show that world to you, i have to light the way!
You have taught me how powerful my kisses are, how calming my hugs can be, how my presence can scare away anything in a closet or under a bed, how every school party is so much better when i am at your side and how perfectly your little bodies fit wrapped up in my arms.
You remind me to jump on the bed, sometimes break the rules, that its okay eat dessert before dinner every once in a while, to overfill the tub with bubbles and make a mess on the floor and that we live in a world of imagination, princesses and magic.
You have shown me who i am in the reflection in your eyes, or the heart filled drawings you so carefully sketch of me and the way you randomly scream “mommy i love you” from clear across the house. Its not what i see around me or hear from that voice in my head that says “I’m not doing it right”. Your eyes, your actions, your love and your drawings (that btw are TAPED all over every single inch of my desk, thanks for that) remind me i am doing just what is right for US.
you have taught me that chicken soup and tylenol have nothing on mommy snuggles when you are sick.
I have learned that playrooms were meant to be messy, after all thats why its called a PLAYroom, ha
You have taught me that there is no reason to try to sweep up glitter because i swear we must just leave a sparkly path everywhere we walk.
You have even taught me that ribbons were actually meant for tying together to make ridiculously long doorknob accessories, or for fishing for barbies from upstairs to scare the begeezuz out of me as i walk by
Although not every day is rainbows and roses, you know what, thats okay…because we will always have each other. And i can honestly say that i know firsthand we will always come out the other side better and stronger. Guess who taught me this?! your mimi, my own perfectly imperfect mommy.
love you babies
mommy
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I simply love photos of notes from children. You can’t keep it all, but you sure can capture it. What a fantastic compilation.
I laughed at the barbie part and the door knob, and cried on the last paragraph. Isn’t it funny that we think we need to teach our children, but actually they also teach us a lot of lessons. And your pictures…there is always happiness in your pictures. You capture their childhood so beautifully!
I felt like you were writing about me and my daughters Shalonda.. right down to the ribbons on the doorknobs! Wow! But you opened my eyes.. at a time when I am being so self-critical and hard on myself, dear friend, you told me I am doing a-okay. That my hugs are indeed so calming that even if I don;t have all the time I did, they would not trade the time they have with me for ten times more time with anyone else. Thank you for that. It made me tear up and know I am doing okay, that they love me always and foremost. The photographs are so beautiful Shalonda.. and the words are the icing on the cake. The photo of barbie on a ribbon.. that would SO be something that happened here as well! haha!
shalonda, this is definitely my favorite post yet. you make me laugh and cry and smile and nod my head in agreement. i am just all over this. the message you are sending them, the journey you’ve been following getting there, the fact that the roles get all fluid and lovely. you are so full of love. though i’ve never met you in person, i would trust you with anything, lady. your heart is that big. and the various kinds of magic you know how to make with your camera – it’s so impressive, so solid, so wonderful. i gush, i mean it, i cannot help it. those barbie images are awesome, and then what follows. you’re amazing, friend.
The doorknob ribbons!!!! YES!!! How that made me laugh, and know that the things you write about you and your girls ring so true for me and mine – this letter was just right – it made me smile and brought a lump to my throat all at the same time x
Precious!
This is a perfect post and every Mom should read this. It is the epitome of motherhood and your images are gorgeous!
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Oh my God the photograps of your daugthers is so inspiring! It makes me want to discover new ways of photographing my two beautiful little ladies. Your work is phenominal! Keep it up 😉