Hannah Nielsen » Documentary Family Photographer Seattle Portland and Worldwide

I see you.

Maybe it’s because a large part of my job is watching moms interact with their kids. Maybe it’s because I took care of other people’s little ones for so long. Or maybe it’s because I finally have my own sweet boy. It doesn’t really matter why. It just is.

I see you, Mamas.

I see you wiping dirty faces. I see the spit up covered t-shirts and how sometimes you barely have time to look in the mirror. I see you having half discussions with your friends because you’re too busy chasing toddlers around to finish a thought. I see you making sure everyone has what they need before finally plopping down to have three bites of your now cold dinner before someone needs you again. I see the loads and loads and loads of laundry. And the endless returning of the toys to their toy bins. I see you breathing deeply through grocery store tantrums. And soothing them when they’re sick or hurt. I see the hugs and the wiping of tears. I see how you know Goodnight Moon word for word. I see the late nights. And the early mornings. I see the endless efforts to balance family and work and a social life and to somehow fit in what you need.

I see how you worry about your little ones. Every. Single. Day. Wondering if you’re doing the best for them. I see how your heart breaks and swells all at once every time they do something new. I see you watching the time go too fast. Way too fast.

It isn’t glamorous, being a mom. But I also see how you don’t care. Glamour isn’t what you signed up for. You signed up for unconditional love. You signed up for that tiny hand in yours. For the sound of that little voice calling for you, “Mama!”. You signed up to be their safe place. To always come when they call, and even sometimes when they don’t. You signed up for one of the greatest adventures you’ll ever have. And all those little things that could easily be complained about mostly aren’t. And most of the time you don’t really care that your hair is still in a ponytail and you haven’t changed out of your yoga pants. Mostly you’re just happy.

I see you, Mamas. Through every hard moment and every mundane one. Through every challenge and accomplishment. I see that to your kids, you are love. And you don’t need to be anything else. Because they see you too.

HDP-9897bwPIN

mamasPIN

HDP-9150PIN

HDP-7085bwPIN

HDP-9441bwPIN

HDP-7793PIN

HDP-8541PIN

HDP-3213bwPIN

HDP-8110bwPIN

HDP-2259bwPIN

HDP-1751PIN

mamas2PIN

HDP-0938PIN

HDP-2891PIN

 

 

Share:|Facebook|Twitter|Pinterest
  • February 5, 2015 - 3:36 pm

    Melissa - Aw, these are perfect!ReplyCancel

  • February 5, 2015 - 5:03 pm

    Ashlea MacAulay - These are all so precious! As a mom to a toddler boy, I can see myself in many of these. Love all of them!!!ReplyCancel

  • February 5, 2015 - 5:18 pm

    Ashley Cherry - Beautiful storytelling.ReplyCancel

  • February 5, 2015 - 6:18 pm

    Jade - this is such a great post! Yay for MOMS!ReplyCancel

  • February 5, 2015 - 6:26 pm

    Hendrick Moy Photography - Ohh man… so many feels in these images!! A truly splendid set with love on full display =DReplyCancel

  • February 5, 2015 - 7:15 pm

    Aimee Trawick - I love these photos! They are so beautiful! <3ReplyCancel

  • February 6, 2015 - 8:18 am

    Shannon - This brings a tear to my eye, on the 18th it will be 1 year since I lost my Mama to cancer. I can’t tell you how much I cherish every single photo (all 5 of them) that I have with her. I wish that I had beautiful photos like this. What a beautiful gift a photo is, and yours are so beautiful!!ReplyCancel

  • February 7, 2015 - 12:07 pm

    Jenny - The connection you captured between these moms and children are amazing! Great set of images.ReplyCancel

Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *

*

*