Can you please leave the picture of you on our refrigerator?
For weeks now, we’ve been caught in this little game where I put it up, and you take it down. I admire your creativity in hiding it—first under papers, then tucked away in junk mail, and even slipped between magazine pages. But it’s time for that to end, my dear.
I understand you’re not fond of photos. I see you scrutinizing every image, often frowning at what you see. You take endless selfies, only to delete them moments later, trying to capture the perfect angle or filter that makes you feel better about your reflection. I can only imagine the critical voices in your head.
You’re worried about your braces and your hair’s defiance in humid weather, and you wish you weren’t so tall. I remember those feelings vividly. At 14, I also thought pictures were my enemy. I had my own battles with insecurities, from my bangs to my straight hair that never curled right.
You know better than to voice those negative thoughts aloud, given the inevitable lecture that follows. You probably think you can just tell me to take the picture down and avoid the conversation, but you’d be mistaken.
I don’t keep putting the photo back up for you to like it. Honestly, I’m the woman who rejected over 25 proofs of her own high school portrait, so I know how tough it is for a teenage girl to feel good about her appearance.
The reason I keep that picture on display is because it captures a moment of pure joy. You’re sitting next to your older brother, laughing genuinely, completely unaware of the camera. You’re playing with a light-up ball, just enjoying each other’s company. That snapshot brings back memories of the carefree, happy girl you used to be.
It also reflects the incredible person you’re becoming. You sit tall and confident, helping around the kitchen without being asked, and you linger at family dinners, wanting to engage with the adults long after the younger kids have dashed off to play. You are in this beautiful space between girlhood and womanhood, and it’s astonishing to see.
As the days pass, my view of you sometimes gets clouded by our busy lives and the hustle and bustle of our family. Your siblings need my attention, and I find myself rushing through moments. But that picture allows me to pause and truly see you, reminding me that you’re here, part of our journey together.
So please, let that picture stay put. It feels wrong when it’s missing, like a piece of our family is absent. I often catch myself searching for you in the kitchen, like a momma bunny looking for her little one in a tattered storybook. More than once, I’ve felt a twinge of anxiety at the thought that soon you won’t be racing through the house in your soccer cleats or borrowing my hair ties.
That picture helps me hold on to you, capturing the essence of who you are amidst the chaos of life.
So, let it be.
With all my love,
Mom
P.S. You are beautiful, smart, funny, and incredibly important to me. I know this might embarrass you, and you’re probably tuning me out, but it’s true, sweetheart.
If you’re interested in more about family planning, check out this excellent resource for pregnancy and home insemination. Also, you might find helpful insights at this site about couples’ fertility journeys.
Summary
In this heartfelt letter, a mother expresses her love and admiration for her teenage daughter, urging her to embrace her beauty and worth as she navigates the challenges of adolescence. The mother reflects on their relationship, the importance of a cherished photograph, and the bittersweet transition from childhood to womanhood.