04/09/2026
The In-Between Years: A Mother’s Reflection
From the Lens of Sharanda Thompson
I look at this portrait of my Dommy and I see him right in that magical, fleeting in-between stage. He wasn't a toddler anymore, but he certainly wasn't grown either. He was around six... maybe seven years old.
In this image, his face is still soft—he is still my baby—but he is already standing a little taller, a little more sure of himself. I remember that day so clearly. I was hosting mini-sessions and had six or seven clients back-to-back. Dommy waited so patiently for his turn because he really wanted his pictures taken with the horse, too.
He wore that hat all around while he waited. It was slightly too big for him, and he had that serious little expression he used to get—I always loved his "model face." He thought he was so grown in that moment, and I let him feel every bit of it.
The Speed of a Blink
I didn’t realize how fast this part would pass. It feels like I blinked and BAM—he’s driving. This age, the middle childhood years, is where they start changing right in front of your eyes:
There are fewer snuggles as they seek their own space.
They develop a fierce sense of independence.
They start needing "Mommy" just a little bit less every day.
He’ll be 17 soon, and I find myself missing this version of him more than I ever expected. I am so deeply thankful that I can look at this portrait and be taken back to that specific moment at the stables, seeing him exactly as he was.
A Reminder for Spring
Spring is here, and the landscape is shifting just as fast as our children grow. This is your reminder to get your family photos done.
More importantly: get in the pictures with your babies.
Don't wait for the "perfect" weight, the perfect hair, or the perfect time. Get them done. Preferably with me, but if not me, just get them done. I promise you, when you are looking back ten years from now, you will not regret having these memories preserved.
