A Smile Worth Sharing*

I hate school pictures.  They're a scam. 

First of all, they're extremely expensive for what you get (which isn't much).  I much prefer taking my kids to a studio where you can see the pictures and choose the ones you want before you pay for anything.  But I was talked into buying the smallest package possible for Spencer this year because he wanted to get a class picture.  (I'm a sucker for class pictures.  I cherished mine while growing up.)

Second, I am pretty much convinced that each person on this earth only gets one (maaaayyybe two) good school pictures in their lifetime and then that's it.  Mine was when I was 16.  See?  (Yay highschool in the 90's!)

Not the greatest, but certainly worlds better than this.

Yikes.

So if you're 2nd grade picture was the one good picture you get, you're pretty much screwed for the rest of your school career.

That said, Spencer recently had his first school pictures taken.  This was not his good year.

Oooooh boy.

I'm not quite sure where that smile came from.  And why on earth did the photographer not prompt him to smile naturally?!  Who knows.  He was too busy sitting on his gold chair and fiddling with his gold tripod, paid with the exhorbitant prices he charges.

I giggle every time I see it.  It's all I can do not to make fun of it outright, for fear of hurting Spencer's feelings.  I keep trying to come up with a great caption to go along with it, but they're either not funny or just a bit too mean.  (Anything brilliant come to mind?)

So you know what?  I'm giving up.  I'm embracing the bad school picture.  The goofier the better!  I'll still  make sure to get good portraits taken of my kids each year, but when it comes to the school picture I will expect at least mediocrity; hopefully I'll get even less.  (At least until the pictures start going into yearbooks.  Theeeenn the kiddos might care about what they look like.)  Dopey grins?  Hair sticking up?  Mismatched clothes?  Bring it!

Don't worry, grandparents.  A priceless copy of this photo will be on it's way to you soon.  Whether it goes on your desk top or in your desk drawer is up to you.  (I won't be offended either way.)

*The slogan used by the stupid school portrait company.  BAH!