School Picture Serenade

So we reached that day today, the day that strikes fear in the hearts of many. Today was school picture day. It seems that we just got over first day hell, and now, a mere three weeks later we are faced with a similar stressor of a day. A certain perfection must be attained, the type at least that demands archiving, photography,and quite frankly; today, last year, every year, I was just not ready.

Digital photography of course is funny, though. "Kids these days", can "look" at their photo, before they have even left the stool, and decide, with the ever patient, or possibly partially deaf, school picture photographer, if the picture is up to snuff. No one will walk away with a picture like mine from Kindergarten; cute as a button dress, dreadful pixie cut, self inflicted since I cried so much when mom tried to brush my thick hair, and, flutteringly closed eyes. Retakes? Nope. Missed that day sick. So those pictures remain as my Kindergarten chronicle. Today's kids just don't know how much that delete key does for them. Or maybe they will grow up with these picture perfect childhoods that didn't really exist? All remains to be seen. But regardless, I still hate picture day.

Last night Gwynn and I had the annual "WHAT are you WEARING" showdown. It plays out pretty much like this. She has an idea of what she wants to wear. The desired clothes, naturally, are not clean. Then my laundry irritation, seen as judgement, prompts new clothing being chosen, dismissed, and consequently yelled at. Seriously. I am pretty sure we had the exact same argument last year the night before picture day.

Devin wore a polo. It's so easy for him...for guys in general. I am pretty sure when we lay all the pictures out once this years offerings are processed, printed and delivered, he has worn a differently colored polo for the last, well, every year. I am pretty proud that they have been differently colored if you really want to know. We had a steep learning curve after all, in particular when it comes to not fighting the seasonality of the date. In Pre-K I had a nice long sleeved rugby picked out for him to wear. Yet, only three weeks into school, picture day was one of those end of September still HOT days, and he walked into his classroom professing "It's frickin' hot in here!" Changes were made that day. Mommy reigned in her mouth. But really, aside from a rugby, for a boy, it's a button down, or a polo. And I am pretty sure that proportionally, seasonally, over the years, polos have won out.

Today came. Today went. Lessons were interrupted with the flash of a bulb. PE classes happened and ruined hair. Spaghetti with Meatballs happened and ruined outfits. And, frustrations aside, we gave it our best shot. We smiled for the camera, looking as fresh and new as three weeks into school can possibly look. I'd suggest, though, that if you really want a chronicle of the year, you should check back in a few months. We'll have either hit our stride, or stumbled along the path. Still, regardless of the outcome, today is frozen in time, encapsulated on virtual celluloid. Look and you will see smiles. Full of the frantic frustration that picture day brings, but behind each of them, a glimmer of the year to come. Perhaps, behind those smiles you will see something else, something integral to a succesful year? You will have to look closely, but if you do you will see it. You will see HOPE.