08/31/2026
I feel like this image is a metaphor for parenting teenagers.
This looked like such a pretty spot, but as soon as this senior leaned against the tree, some harsh sunlight hit the side of her face in an unflattering way. If you look very closely, mom is standing off to the side, holding up a white t-shirt to block the harsh light, making the image perfect for her daughter.
Of course, this isn't the final image (I'll put the final image in the comments). Mom ended up being cropped and edited out, so just her daughter was left to shine.
I feel like that's exactly how it is parenting teens. They do so much on their own. They need our help less and less. And they're rocking it. But as parents, we're still there, on the sidelines, just out of the frame, doing everything we can to make sure they're set up for success. Helping to make their pictures perfect ❤️
