By Cheryl Bac
E-mail Cheryl Bac
About this blog: I'm a wife, stay-at-home mom, home cook, marathon runner, and PhD. I recently moved to the Silicon Valley after completing my PhD in Social Psychology and becoming a mother one month apart. Before that, I ran seven marathons incl...
(More)About this blog: I'm a wife, stay-at-home mom, home cook, marathon runner, and PhD. I recently moved to the Silicon Valley after completing my PhD in Social Psychology and becoming a mother one month apart. Before that, I ran seven marathons including Chicago and Boston. Exercise is an integral part of my life. I hope to one day go back to long distance running and tackle the New York City Marathon. Right now I run after my one year old son. Although I am a stay-at-home mom, we are rarely "at home." My mom also stayed at home with my brother and me. She warned me that, although rewarding, it can be isolating. So, with her help, I learned the importance of getting out into the community and meeting other mothers. On the rare occasion when I am at home and have a hand or two free, I squeeze in time to scrapbook. As a new mom, many challenges are thrown my way. I hope my opinions, triumphs, and struggles help experienced parents reminisce, new parents cope, and parents-to-be get an honest glimpse of what the first years of motherhood can entail.
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We made Christmas presents for relatives this summer and worked on our son's Halloween costume in August. Yes, the timing was all wrong, but the enthusiasm was there. And, sometimes, that is what matters most.
When our kids were younger, I took monthly photos of each of them. The photos were taken with the same toy or in the same spot on roughly the same day every month. While I enjoyed taking these monthly photos during their first years, our kids were not always as enthusiastic. Both kids made it clear to me when they had outgrown the tradition.
So now, rather than taking specific photos on specific days in specific places every month, I'm choosing my favorite monthly snapshot of our kids together. It doesn't matter where it happens or exactly when.
As I look through these sibling photos I love how much more our kids' personalities are shining through. Posed photos with kids saying "cheese" definitely have their place, but I'm glad our monthly tradition is now capturing more genuine smiles, hugs, and laughter. I hope we can keep this tradition going.
