School Pictures

It's that time of year again.  Fall is in the air, the thought of holidays are starting to creep into your mind and school is in full swing.  The month since school pictures were taken has flown by and the next thing you know, you open your kid's school folder and staring back at you are school pictures.

School picture day is usually a few weeks into the school year.  Most kids are still sporting their freckly cheeks from summer.  They usually have a new(er) shirt or outfit to wear because you've just went school shopping.  It usually means a morning of stress and drama for most.  My daughter has massively thick, wavy hair so it's always dependent on the weather how she styles her.  My son just doesn't care.

We've had our fair share of rough "picture day" mornings.  One time I told my daughter she couldn't wear super shiny lip gloss to school for her pictures.  (I think it was 3rd grade)  She took it in her pocket and wore it anyway.  I had no clue until we got pictures back and she not only had it on her lips, but also all over her chin.  Karma.  Listen to you mom little girl.

We've also had the years of bad hair days and crooked teeth.  Not to mention, last's years pictures sported the colored braces which my daughter coordinated with her outfit.  We've had the year that we spent an hour straightening her hair only for it to be big and poofy by picture time...we've learned to go with curls.  And don't forget the younger pictures where I got to pick their outfits and now they think they look super dorky.

When my kids were littler, I went through a lot of stress getting ready for picture day.  I'd make sure everything was perfect.  I'd order a big pack and plan to send them out in Christmas cards.  I remember my mom cutting our pictures out and writing my name and grade on the back.  I used nonacid ink so it wouldn't ruin the picture.  I was all in.

And then I realized what a waste it was.  A month went by, the pictures came home, and I was always disappointed.  Don't get me wrong, the pictures were fine.  They were exactly what I paid for...a school picture.   I paid $30, I got a $30 packet of pictures.  Why was I expecting professional, studio type photos from a school picture.  I quickly learned.

The past couple years have been better.  I don't worry about it.  To me, school pictures are just that.  This is what my kid looks like every day at school.  They aren't normally polished and in fancy clothes.  They usually roll out of bed, run a comb through their hair and go.  So I guess to me, I want to remember what my kids look like on a normal, regular basis.   If I want a nice picture, that I can look at proofs and pick from, that I can guarantee a great smile and photoshop, I'm going to take them somewhere else.  You get what you pay for.  Also - did you know that you can volunteer to help at picture day?  The company that our school uses does a great job.  Yes, they herd them in and out but they are on the ball.  They really do take the time to make sure necklaces are fixed, hair is in it's place, etc.  I've helped the past two years and they do try and get the best smile.  Sometimes kids just smile gooney for other people.  I know my kids do.

So all that being said, let's get to this year's pictures.  I don't have my daughters yet but my son's came home yesterday.  As I mentioned, I don't put a lot of thought into it.  I let him pick his outfit, do his own hair, etc.  As long as his teeth are brushed, I'm good.  A few days before picture day, I noticed him checking out last year's picture.  I didn't think too much of it.  After asking what he was going to wear for pictures, I was on to his tricks.  He kinda giggled and said he had it planned.  He mentioned that he wanted to wear his Nike shirt and then laughed.  I didn't think anything of it.  I didn't realize he meant the same shirt he wore last year.  Once I figured it out, I joked with him that I was going to hide it.  Little did I know, he had already hidden it.

Picture day rolled around and he came out of his room proud as a peacock, wearing that Nike shirt.  He has two, one is navy, one is black.  I didn't mention that he had the wrong color on from the year before.  I considered it a small victory.   About 10 minutes before we were to leave, he looks at last year's picture on the mantel and then dashes into the bathroom.  He was in there for a while and came out with a massive amount of hair product on...just like last year.   So without further ado...here is last year's and this year's.....

I'm going to have to make sure to write the year on the back of all of these!!  Other than his face being a little chubbier, it's pretty much identical!  He was so proud of himself.  Luckily, I've learned.  I buy the smallest package and basically just use it to document the year.  I remember my pictures being pretty crazy (I liked aqua net) but it's so fun to look back on them now.  I want my kids to have that experience too.  If I want good pictures, I will get those taken elsewhere.  And since they got to pick their outfits for the school pictures, they know they have to wear what I want for professional pictures.  Mom wins!