Need your help, please. Ellie brought home her school photo last week and I'm not thrilled with it.
Honestly, I dread school picture days. Not just because I don't care for the usual posed, fake-smile shots but because of what happens before the big day. It just can't possibly go smoothly. We were struggling to agree to an outfit for her to wear, so the day before her picture day I found a really cute olive green knit shawl and showed it her that night. We had her try it on with a white long sleeved tee AND she really liked it AND agreed to wear it for her photo (I have witnesses). The next morning was another story. She woke up and insisted on wearing a striped pullover fleece hoodie sweatshirt. I wasn't going to give in on that one so she of course ended up in tears. We proceeded to the bathroom to curl her hair, per her request. I moussed, curled, and sprayed it to perfection. She looked adorable.
And yet, suddenly, more tears. "Make that one look the way it used to!" she screamed.
What??? "What one and what way? I have no idea what you're talking about," was my response.
After much begging, cajoling, and hugging, I finally got out of her that she wanted one small chunk of hair on the left side of her face to be like a ringlet. Well, folks, her hair doesn't do that. It still looked so cute but she wanted no part of it. On most mornings, we don't have any spare time to be curling hair, and though we were up a little early that morning, all this drama was eating up all the extra time we had. Finally, sobbing, she begged me to straighten it. With the straightener. The huge crocodile tears rolling down her cheeks did me in.
Clearly I gave in on the striped sweatshirt too:
PLEASE respond to the poll at the upper right corner of my blog as to whether or not Ellie should have her photo retaken, I could really use your opinion! (Especially those of you with older kids).
Honestly, I dread school picture days. Not just because I don't care for the usual posed, fake-smile shots but because of what happens before the big day. It just can't possibly go smoothly. We were struggling to agree to an outfit for her to wear, so the day before her picture day I found a really cute olive green knit shawl and showed it her that night. We had her try it on with a white long sleeved tee AND she really liked it AND agreed to wear it for her photo (I have witnesses). The next morning was another story. She woke up and insisted on wearing a striped pullover fleece hoodie sweatshirt. I wasn't going to give in on that one so she of course ended up in tears. We proceeded to the bathroom to curl her hair, per her request. I moussed, curled, and sprayed it to perfection. She looked adorable.
And yet, suddenly, more tears. "Make that one look the way it used to!" she screamed.
What??? "What one and what way? I have no idea what you're talking about," was my response.
After much begging, cajoling, and hugging, I finally got out of her that she wanted one small chunk of hair on the left side of her face to be like a ringlet. Well, folks, her hair doesn't do that. It still looked so cute but she wanted no part of it. On most mornings, we don't have any spare time to be curling hair, and though we were up a little early that morning, all this drama was eating up all the extra time we had. Finally, sobbing, she begged me to straighten it. With the straightener. The huge crocodile tears rolling down her cheeks did me in.
Clearly I gave in on the striped sweatshirt too:
So now I see the final result...and I'm not impressed. Flat hair and striped sweatshirt aside, this just isn't a great picture of Ellie; her smile is pretty tight and clearly forced. I need HONEST feedback as my judgement "may" be a bit clouded. Am I being overly critical, or should we do retakes? This is FIRST GRADE, for goodness sake. Why is this so hard for me??
UPDATE: The poll is now closed with 100% of the votes telling me to just chill. I'll keep this story with her photo and enjoy it for what it is - Ellie as a first grader! :)
Comments