A few years ago, I watched a mama helping her child do homework in the bleachers of a baseball game. I felt guilty because I didn’t do that. Mostly because of lifestyle, {too busy with one child to oversee the other while doing his homework} but also out of selfishness. I wanted to watch my...
I so agree with your comments. It’s hard to follow my own advice sometimes…but I hate looking like a hypocrite even more. As much as I love your thoughts here…gotta say…your photos are so creative and fun! What a great match of word and picture.
I love your images in this post Patty as well as your sentiments. As a teacher, I felt that children needed to become more and more responsible for their work and things. I told parents to not bring backpacks or other things left behind to school if their child had forgotten them at home or in the car. They weren’t going to learn to keep up with their things if they relied on parents to bring them. This was not to say that I didn’t want parents to be adequately involved, but rather, to be appropriately involved. It always seemed to work well. Now as a parent of school age children, I try and teach my own children the same concepts. I will be there to support them in their education, but they have to do the work and they have to take responsibility. Thanks for your post. As always very pertinent and insightful!
I love this so much, Patty…and couldn’t agree more. (Tho, it isn’t always easy to trust them to this crazy world.) 
It’s true. Letting them work things out by themselves is hard for me. It’s best for them, though.
What settings did you use to get those action shots on the trampoline? Were you on a balcony? I’m going to have to climb a tree to get shots like that here!
Isn’t this the truth! Your timing is impeccable. I was just thinking yesterday as my children were playing in their new sandbox with underwear on in the backyard – I sure hope our brady bunch neighbors don’t see them! I then start feeling like maybe I am a bad mom for letting them run around like that, then think maybe I am a bad mom for even caring more about my neighbors than my children having fun! Why do we do this? Maybe us women just think too much.
Less Guilt-Less Comparison-More Family Fun
You are SO right and it is words I find very important right now. My son is 13 and finds motivating himself to do his homework very tough. I try to focus on motivating him and making him believe he knows the answers rather than feeding him the answers but it can be very easy to fall into that trap and suddenly realise I am doing too much and he is not doing enough.
Mollyxxx
These photos are amazing! I love how you caught her doibng different flips and tricks…
I subscribed to the
same philosophy…..
The results of that
philosophy will soon
be revealed, when
my firstborn heads
to college in the fall.
Love this, friend.
xo Suzanne
The shadow shots are especially interesting. Your commentary — priceless! After raising 2 kids, I’d say someone will always encourage and someone will always criticize. We do the best we can. And I prayed a ton for my kids!
Wonderful shots and excellent insights. xo
Love your thoughts in the post and the pictures are great fun!
fantastic idea and great shots.
Paul.
Great post.. so true. It is so easy to simply ‘manage’ our children and it’s easy to fall into that habit, simply because when they’re younger, it just makes life easier and run more smoothly. At some point, though, we all do need to let go and let them do their own thing… and that’s a better gift to them in the long run.
I love your shots!
Oh I hear you – my 11 year old son thinks he needs to be coddled – but I have taken a step back from reminding him of every little thing . . . because of that – his last Latin test – C+ – which is completely unacceptable in our house. So, guess who is grounded from ALL media for the next 2 months!?
Great story, and parenting perspective. I also love the idea of the shadow pics off the trampoline. another great perspective.
I seem to be struggling again, trying to find my words. It just seems that way for me when things are weighing heavy. Life is good, and words flow but when it’s thick and real it gets wrapped around my heart and pulls tight choking my thoughts and my words and my very breath. So...
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Love! Gorgeous color!
I love how my camera helps me to see the world from all sorts of different angles and moments.
Mollyxxx
You bless me by reaching for your camera when the words are not there. Gorgeous shots as always, Patty. Hugs.
These are so gorgeous, Patty!! Love the details your focused and love the area you live by!
i can still remember the spring that lauren graduated from high school. i was a mess. just the unknown of what was ahead. both for her as well as me. the thought our relationship will change. well it did but for the better in so many ways. it was wonderful to see become more appreciative and wanting to interact with us more. so i am thinking of you and knowing that what lies ahead will be so good. be well my friend
Beautiful photos and words.
Thinking of you sweet friend. even when you feel you have no words, you express them beautifully. The photos of Market Square are amazing! Thank you for your encouraging words recently on my blog. They and you mean so much to me!
Yes. Words come hard for me too sometimes. Your photos are really gorgeous though!
The pictures say it all! Your just like me in that sometimes I just don’t have the words to express things. You do an amazing job of expressing things with your camera though.
Gorgeous photos, no words needed!
I can imagine that they are enjoying the most magnificent Texas skies… And camaraderie and inspiration and creativity {and fun!} and all those wonderful things that happen at Blissdom. Have you been? I’ve been twice, in 2011 and 2012, but couldn’t go this year because of an unfair and {lucky me} obscene amount of travel...
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I’ll be enjoying nature, too…tho we are expecting more rain this weekend. 
Your time is to be at home this go ’round not at Blissdom. I can imagine that Blissdom is quite inspirational and reenergizing, but my question and challenge to you is this, what will inspire and reenergize you at home that you would have missed out on if you were at Blissdom. You can have Blissdom in your own home, and knowing you, I think you probably have already decided just that. Texas skies are no different than Tennessee skies for finding beauty and inspiration, just look at the photos you posted here this morning (And I can say this with great certainty because I have lived under both here in Tennessee and in Austin, Texas.) Will you miss out on seeing friends from years past and participating in the new venue in Texas, yep. But you are gaining valuable time at home with family and friends. Plus you get to sleep in your very own bed! Enjoy and soak it all in. There is purpose in you not being at Blissdom this year. Love you dear friend!
i’ve never been. it would be surreal to meet some of my blogging friends all at once like that;) who knows maybe one day.
I’m sorry you had to miss this year. I wish I could go. Maybe one day it will happen. It would have to be a little closer, though.
I only heard about Blissdom from someone posting on IG that they were going, but I have no idea what it is…but I do need to check it out since I live in Texas!
And your photos….blissdom! 
Have a wonderful weekend!
Nothing better than nature. You have the most amazing sunsets!!
What absolutely gorgeous shots! Love the second one down!
Yes, lets plan to meet next year at Blissdom…I am putting it on my calendar as we speak!
Unfortunately, if it is in March it coincides with our spring break, which is sacrosanct family time on our calendar! But, if it were held another month, I would definitely think about it: ) Love your beautiful pics and heart!
Oh the things I could tell her about motherhood. Truth is, the lessons we learn are as important as those we teach. {Thank you, LaSha, Roger & baby Easton. It was my great joy to spend this time with you.} *** Sweet Shot Tuesdays Communal Global * There are 1440 minutes in every day… 1440...
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There’s nothing quite as beautiful as an expecting mom.
She’s positively glowing!
Oh pretty mama! Gorgeous shots! Love them, and her EYES!!!!
She has such pretty blue eyes! Lovely portraits for the expecting parents.
WOW!!!! Great work Patty!!! Thanks for stopping by and telling me to come take a look. You are doing great and I can clearly see you are using some of the things I taught you during our session. SO PROUD OF YOU!!!!!
Keep up fabulous work~
xoxoxo,
Lisa
i love new moms. it’s all so scary and new and they really don’t have a clue what to expect. it’s just one of those things you have to experience yourself…that you have to walk through on your own. beautiful work patty!
These really capture their joy, Patty. Beautiful work!
i can always find me here in this hallowed space at the very beginning of Day, belly and ankles wet from sopping up Night’s breath off tender leaves and hay and bejeweled webs of lace i narrow my focus through this tiny portal and it’s as if real life emerges in front of me voices quiet and distractions...
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i believe you are correct and i love those images!
These are breathtaking images and your words are so true!
Your photography is beautiful as is your post ~ I try to capture the ‘beauty right in front of my nose’ ~ thanks for asking ~~thanks, namaste, (A Creative Harbor)
Very passionate words and I agree with your thoughts. Love the morning colors and angles of this set of pictures. You are a talented photographer.
Such gorgeous images! Love all the textures and soft colors.
What a beautiful post. Such stunning shots, and powerful words. Thank you for sharing. Joining you from Deb Duty. http://tutusshots.blogspot.com/2012/07/thursdays-boy-is-full-of-many-things.html
Beautiful photos and words. The fourth one is perfection!
I believe in God’s Word and in living it so that others can see Him through how I live. Beautiful post for beautiful images.
Lovely, both thoughts and images…
Wow, amazing pictures – really love the cobwebs.
Your spider web pics are incredible – I love them!
Beautiful photos!
I believe what is laid out in the Gospel of John. And I believe that those freedoms you write about are important and much closer to disappearing than most people think – sadly. Great images!
I believe that is an absolutely stunning post! Beautiful.
I was almost holding my breath at the delicacy of these photos.
Beautiful light in these images, Patty. xo
As I continue to scroll through your blog, I am honoured to have discovered it and thankful to be able to read your words of faith, passion for life & thankfulness for the gifts you have been given.
May we all stop to take the time to breathe, to love, to listen, to think and to be thankful for the blessings we have in life for we never know what’s around the corner. I believe there is always something to be grateful for… even in adversity.
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