I’m Not Sweating Picture Day: My Kid’s Not a Model Anyway

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My daughter kicked off her preschool journey this fall, and now my fridge is a colorful gallery of her art, filled with daily tales of playground adventures and teacher interactions. Recently, I received the first letter announcing picture day, and it hit me like a ton of bricks: when did my little one grow up enough for school pictures?

Naturally, my first instinct was to think about what she’d wear and how I’d style her hair. But then, I paused to remember a vital lesson I want to instill in my kids: always be yourself. No matter the opinions or expectations of others, the most important thing is to embrace who you really are inside.

As parents, we often strive to teach our children to stay authentic, so why was I suddenly fixating on making her look picture-perfect? Even before she fully grasped the concept of picture day, I was already sketching out her outfit and planning a breakfast that wouldn’t leave a crumb on her clothes. I wanted her to look pristine for her first school photos because, well, that’s what’s traditionally done, right? After all, these pictures are shared with teachers, friends, and family for years to come, and they’re destined to exist forever.

Although this approach has become the norm, I’m determined to stick to the lesson of authenticity I mentioned earlier. So for picture day, my daughter will choose her own outfit. If she decides on a striped dress paired with a polka-dot sweater and a rainbow headband, I’m all for it. If her hair has that adorable windblown look from running around during recess, that’s perfectly okay. And if she shows up with a bruise from some roughhousing with her brother, so be it — that’s just part of being a 4-year-old.

I genuinely don’t care if she looks like a beauty-pageant contestant in her school pictures. I want to remember her as the little girl who embraces her messy hair, makes her own fashion choices, and plays with all her heart. She doesn’t need to be immaculate for picture day — after all, 4-year-olds are rarely immaculate!

I want my kids to grow up carefree, not worrying about what others think of their appearance or style. And this lesson should be a daily mantra, not just something we remember on picture day. The best part of those photos will be looking back years later and seeing a girl radiating joy from the inside out, even if her outfit didn’t match.

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In summary, while picture day often comes with pressure to achieve perfection, it’s important to remember that authenticity and self-expression are what truly matter. Let your kids shine in their own unique ways, and cherish the memories created along the way.