Friday, April 25, 2008

The Picture of Motherhood......


The lovely ladies at Five Minutes for Mom are running another great contest -- how do they keep coming up with them???? This time, in honor of Mothers Day, they're looking for the photo that best captures "Motherhood".


There are so many many photos I've taken of the boys that shout out the theme to me, but there is one in particular that I can't get out of my mind. I took this photo about two years ago when CutiePie was four years old. I'd taken him to a local Greek Festival and he begged me to go on one of the rides. I have to admit, I was suspicious of the safety of the ride and really didn't think it was going to be a good way to spend my limited money that day. In the end, CutiePie's pleas wore me down and I bought the overpriced slips of colored paper that let him on the ride. When the carney measured him at the gate and he justbarelymadetheheightcutoff, he looked back at me and smiled one of the biggest smiles I've ever seen from him. Then, I watched as a stranger strapped my precious baby into a plastic swing and the ride lifted him into the air. As he spun around, faster and faster, the wind lifted his hair and his expression changed from one of joy to ecstasy!
When we first met CutiePie in his Siberian orphanage, he didn't smile. Not at all. He was sad and scared and timid. He couldn't even imagine a world where kids can fly through the air while loving parents shower them with waves and shouts and laughs and the flash of cameras. Just a year and a half later, he was able to experience this moment of true happiness - and through him, so did I.

I was watching over him, but he was flying in his own blissful world, off on his own adventure in the sky, while Mom stayed safely on the ground. And isn't that really what being a Mother is about????


17 comments:

Amberleigh said...

Beautiful picture! And love how you explained motherhood, you hit it on the head!

polkadot said...

wheeeeeeeee! what a fun pic.

Mama Needs a Cosmo said...

You know, just LOOKING at the image makes me smile. (And wonder how exactly you got him totally in focus . . .) But then reading your description elevates the the "specialness" of the photo to a level that some parents will never know.

Anonymous said...

That's a beautiful story and such a sweet picture.

Danielle said...

Your description added so much to an already amazing photo! You really touched my heart. Thanks you for sharing and good luck with the contest.

Teresa said...

Great picture, wonderful commentary! LOVE that Cutiepie!

Mrs.Naz@BecomingMe said...

I found your blog from I've got Mommy Brain. I love this picture. And the rest of your blog is darling as well. Glad I stopped by.

Anonymous said...

I love this picture. How fun!

BOSSY said...

That really does capture Motherhood. So would the photo of Bossy yelling, "Hold On for the love of Gawd!"

The Downtown Boutique said...

How wonderful to read your story! We have just this week received the call that we will finally get a little boy placed with us for adoption. We have one son, but what joy the Lord is bringing with another one!

Kim said...

What a great picture! And to read why you chose it...well, glad I had a tissue handy!

Jules said...

I can just FEEL his happiness!

Janice (5 Minutes for Mom) said...

Good news :) Check out our site :)

Tarasview said...

that was beautiful. thanks for sharing!

Rachel said...

What an awesome story and experience!

miznyc said...

This a great picture and an even better story to put it in to context!

Unknown said...

That's an incredible photo. It captures so much!