My fellow photographer and friend, Zoe Stewart of Zoe Stewart Photography and the person behind the blog Simply Ruby shared a link to a circle of photographers who write letters to their daughters and explained how she wished to do the same one day.
Reading some of the heart-warming letters from the circle of photographers I decided this was for me. Just thought I would share some of the posts that have inspired myself, Zoe and the other girls in our circle. My Four Hens Photography, a photographer I have followed since my early Flickr days when I first picked up my camera and the amazing red balloon photography who’s got this very unique photography style that I just love and one more, KirstyLarmour.
To me the letters to my daughters is about capturing special stages in their lives and recording something very special that has happened. It will be to focus on the important and happy things in our lives and the things that make my heart beat a little bit harder; our kids really do know how to pull our heartstrings. This will be my first letter to my daughters, going forward our little circle of photographers who we wish will grow a little have decided on a rule which means we post a letter on the last Sunday of every month.
This month I am linking into my dear friend Donna and her letter to her daughter Daisy, please pop over to her blog to read hear heartfelt letter. We do have more room in our circle so if you have a story to tell your son or daughter please do get in touch.
~*~
Dearest Molly and Grace
Growing up I kept dreaming about the days I would have children of my own. I always imagined a house full of children, one big happy family. I had images of myself in a large kitchen where we would dance between drawing, baking and cooking food.
When I met your daddy, he held me tight and I just had a strong feeling that I did belong in his arms, that is how I knew I loved him. It is hard to explain but the feeling I had when he held me tight just made me feel safe and I knew that this was the man I wanted to marry and this was the man I wanted to be the Father of my children.
Grace was conceived almost instantly and arrived 4 days late after 24 hours of labour. It was not an easy birth and I felt my body did not know what to do, but you arrived and you were so beautiful.
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| Your scan pictures, I knew from watching these scan pictures that you would get a lovely button nose. Even in my tummy you were busy doing gymnastics |
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| The first picture captured by daddy just an hour old and the other captured at home at a week old. |
When you were two and a half years old we decided to have another baby. Mummy and daddy were really sad when we lost two babies in early pregnancy but when we felt brave enough to try again I fell pregnant with Molly. You gave us a fright from an early age and we had several scans in hospital to confirm that I was still pregnant.
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| Your first scan, just a little bean with a tiny heart beating. It was such a relief, you gave us such a fright. Then another relief when we saw a tiny little person kicking happily around. |
Grace, you were so excited about becoming a big sister and you just could not wait. You didn’t quite know what to expect but it was clear that you were ready to welcome a new baby sister into the family.
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| Grace busy drawing in the garden just weeks before her sisters arrival. You were so excited about becoming a big sister and this is the first family portrait you drew in those last weeks waiting on your sister to arrive. |
You arrived a week early and the labour only lasted 4 hours. You were such a tiny baby with a head full of hair and you just completed our family, at this moment I just knew that all the heartache was so worth it and we was just waiting for the right girl to enter our family.
Grace, you were 4 years old when you visited us in hospital and you just looked like you had spent a whole year growing in the past 10 hours. Suddenly you seemed so big in comparison to your baby sister. You were so shy and you did not quite know how to act, what to say or feel. I could tell there were a lot of emotions flying through your little mind. As always you are the thinker and at times we just need to give you time to adjust. You were so excited about becoming a big sister but at the same time you just did not know what that involved.
Four years on and we are leading such a busy life. I have my office job and during evenings and weekends I love to capture memories with my camera.
We don’t have the big kitchen nor do we have a lot of time to dance, bake and play together. The reality of life is a lot different to the dream I once had, not only because we all lead a busy life but because my two girls have grown into social butterflies who loves to spend time with their friends.
I don’t have a house full of kids as I dreamt about, but I do have two fantastic girls who fill my heart with the love of ten and my life is complete. Maybe I don’t live the dream I once dreamed off but I am just living a different dream and in so many ways it is a better dream. There is something amazing about dreams, allow yourself to have plans and dreams for the future. The dreams may not come true or the dream may be slightly different to what you once thought they would be but the dreaming part helps you shape your future.
Going forward I am going to write you two some letters to tell you just how fantastic you are. From the moment you entered into our lives you have changed me and I just know you will continue to change me, you both help me be a better person and a prouder person, all because I am allowed to call you mine.
Lots of love
Mummy
xxx
