Personal

I will squander my life, pinning memories to the wall. Imprinting the constellations of their freckles on my mind. I will learn every curve and angle. Bones and joints. Ribs, elbows, pointy knees. High cheek bones and toothy grins. And then they'll change, for me to try again. I will capture in black and white the light in their eyes. The light in my soul. Camera glued to my hand. If it means I won't miss a moment. Watching them grow.

Parenting is an exercise in letting go over and over and over again. I would not be able to contain the grief if not for this artform that allows me to keep a little piece of every stage of them, even as I watch them outgrow me. Photographing my babies reminds me how to see the light.