Artifact Motherhood | A first school day three-years later

Well that was a funny old time wasn’t it?

You broke up from school for the Christmas break and didn’t go back for four months.

The third lock-down and the toughest to date. Not to dwell on the negatives, this fine post-Easter holiday morning, you put on your uniform once again. A little older, wiser and with a bit more sass than before. Edging towards mid-teens but aware in the angst to know enough of what’s going on.

The first time we did this was your first day of secondary school back in 2018. After you gave me the OK to photograph this school morning three years on, little did you know that I quietly sat in your bedroom this time around, while you were downstairs. Getting the moment right and putting the camera on remote so that I could appear in at least one of the photos with you. I’m more aware than ever that I don’t feature enough in the family album. Just the one photo, bed-head hair and cup of tea in hand. Taking in the process of what it takes for a 14-year-old to get ready for school.

I’m reluctant to see that we’ve now fast-forwarded from April to July and you’ve one full week left until breaking for summer. But I’m not reluctant to be looking ahead to spending these lazy camper-van exploring days with you both.

Paying attention to the quieter moments in the every day of our family life.

Artifact Motherhood is a collaboration of artists/mothers from around the world. Sharing stories of the joys and struggles of our journey. Our hopes and dreams for our children. With little nuggets of wisdom here and there. These are more than photographs with dates written on the back. These are the artifacts we are leaving behind for our children and the generations to come.

Please visit the next artist in our blog circle, the talented Ann Owen and continue through all the artists until you get back to me.