Letters to our Daughters | May 2013

I have told myself over and over to sit back.  Take in the moment.  Take a photo.  I forgot what it was like to photograph my own kids.  To photograph their personalities.  To photograph them being them.  But I was blessed to join a circle of amazing photographers I have adored from afar for so long.  I cannot believe they allowed me to join this amazing circle.  I read the letters and realize that we are all moms.  We feel.  We love.  We photograph … our sweet daughters.

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My sweet little girl,

I’m sitting down here. I’m trying to write. I have such a heavy heart over the thought that someone stole my phone. It’s not the material thing of the phone itself. But they stole my memories of our last month. I have them in my head. But not on camera. Your dad told me to not worry. He told me we have so many memories together that 2 weeks of photos will not matter much in the grand scheme of life. We have our health + our happiness. We have each other. I hope you remember our field trip last week to Lucy. I hope you remember bringing such smiles to your great-grandmothers eyes. I have those memories. But I digress …

This last month, I’ve watched you learn about failure + disappointment. In an age of entitlement, I think it is good you have faced this + came out smiling. You see, not everything in life is easy. Not everything in life comes to everyone. Your daddy is good at soccer. He loves it and played it throughout his life. Me, if you threw a soccer ball at me, I’d probably duck and run. But we all have our strengths + weaknesses.

Last week, after spending months on a swim team, you were evaluated on your skills at another pool and failed. You were unable to successfully float for 10 seconds without moving your arms + legs. It’s a tough feat and you could not do it. This, from the girl that was on a swim team. I think we all sat in wonder – like how could this be? So they put you at the same level as your brothers – who had never had a swim lesson in their life. You pouted. You cried. But, you also realized you need to learn it to move ahead. It has made you more motivated. You cannot wait to get into the pool and prove them wrong. Once you get that, you move up two levels. So have patience. Work hard. You will see success.

It’s so hard for me as your mom to sit back and see your disappointment. But know I do it to make you stronger. I will hug you. I will comfort you. But I can’t change it. You have to. Know you will be a better person as a result. Everyone needs adversity. I realize that now. It makes you who you are. It will make you an amazing student, an amazing mother, and an amazing woman.  And know your brothers adore you in everything you do.  They often don’t act like it.  But they do.  You are their world.  They adore you.  You are an amazing daughter and sister already.

I love you L.

mom Wendy Laurel. Yes, you read that right. I adore every single image she creates and I know you will too.