The other day, I bumped into an old friend, Jenna, whom I hadn’t seen since she welcomed her first little one about a year ago. After the usual chit-chat about “How’s your baby?” and “Are you managing to catch some sleep?” we got to the inevitable question, “Are you planning on having another?” She then whipped out her phone to share photos of her adorable tot. With a smile that could light up a room, she began scrolling through endless images that beautifully narrated her baby’s first year — complete with all the picture-perfect moments to back it up.
To my surprise, I wasn’t annoyed or feeling rushed. I didn’t think she was oversharing or being overly enthusiastic with her personal baby slideshow. Instead, I was hit by a wave of envy.
No, it wasn’t my aging ovaries whispering for another child or a longing for those sleepless nights (which let’s be honest, are not exactly fond memories!). It was simply the realization that she had created this incredible visual record of her child’s early milestones, while I had… well, not much at all.
Last week, I found myself reminiscing about my firstborn, who’s now off at college. I grabbed his baby book, hoping to relive those early days. In just a few minutes, I was done flipping through the scant 50 photos I had from his first year. Back then, I was armed only with an old Kodak camera that limited me to 36 shots per roll of film. My friend, on the other hand, had likely snapped 150 photos of her daughter’s first experiences with rice cereal, capturing every adorable expression in breathtaking detail.
And don’t even get me started on the daily videos she had recorded! My documentation consisted of a few clips from Christmas, Halloween, and Easter — a far cry from the easy one-click recording we have today. Now, being a parent and an amateur documentary filmmaker is as simple as pressing a button. What a gift that is!
As a seasoned mom, I’ve learned a thing or two, and I’ve stopped telling new mothers, “It goes by so fast. Enjoy every moment,” because let’s face it, not every minute is enjoyable. Instead, I now say, “You can never have too many pictures or videos. Snap away! Live in the moment, but don’t hesitate to document it because memories fade. Those photos you take? They last forever.”
Thanks to the cloud, there’s no need to fear losing precious memories in a house fire. You can safely store all those moments and one day, your children will thank you for it. If you’re looking for more guidance on family planning, check out this excellent resource on infertility.
Now, go ahead and fill up that cloud with memories of your little ones. Future you will be grateful for it!
Summary:
This piece highlights the joy and importance of capturing moments in your child’s life through photos and videos. It reflects on the contrast between past and present parenting experiences and encourages new mothers to document every milestone, reassuring them that even chaotic moments create lasting memories.