SENIOR SESSION: Ashton

I will not claim to understand completely the feeling of a mom when their eldest is a senior. 

I'm not there yet, and so I can only observe and take note.

I think as moms we have difficulty not wrapping our identity around our children.  I think it's nearly unavoidable...we wake each morning and lay down each night with thoughts of them in our mind...and yet, our goal as parents is to teach them to "not need us" in a sense...to train them to be independent and wise individuals...

And yet, after 18 years of pouring into them, knowing that the moment to "set them free" is just around the corner...there has to be a multitude of emotions rising up inside...

pride, fear, love, excitement, remembrance, joy, sadness...

it's why so many moms have tears during a senior session...

it's why I adore those seniors that let mom "primp at their hair & clothes", that let mom coach them on how to smile...and they do it with grace...

Ashton is down-to-earth and witty and up for anything!

It was freezing cold & the rain was spitting when we first started out on this blustery day.  I was almost going to call it when we got out of our cars...but, I looked at Ashton and saw something there that gave me confidence to know that her parents had done all the ground work...she IS independent, confident, and has a right perspective...

I did not need to worry about mere setbacks of weather, because she's been guided her whole life how to deal with circumstances that are thrown at her, and how to carry herself with poise & grace...

She's beautiful and I loved watching her...watching her mom watch her :) 

I suppose it'll be my turn soon enough...until then, I'm taking notes with Seniors like Ashton :)