Fifty-two Fridays: Week 18 | Bay Area Photographer

I can’t believe it’s already the 18th week of the year.   I am thoroughly enjoying this project and the creativity it sparks in me.  I love taking a theme and thinking “outside the box” to interpret it.  I don’t always nail it, but I so enjoy the process of creating the final image.

This week’s theme is CHILDREN.  To understand why I chose this image, you have to read the story, otherwise you’ll think it’s a picture of a blurry kid in a pool and a bug.

When my youngest was almost three, we were visiting some friends in Idaho who lived on several acres.  They had a beautiful play structure with all the necessary equipment needed to entertain children, including a tire swing.  While my husband and I were in the house visiting with our friends, our kids ventured outside to play.  A few minutes later, they came back in carrying our youngest who was screaming and covered in red welts.  Apparently he climbed onto the tire swing, and in the process, disturbed a nest full of wasps who had taken shelter inside the tire.  We estimated he had been stung about 20 times before he was rescued.  Ever since that day, he has had a fear of any sort of bug with wings.

Fast forward about five years…

It’s been beautiful weather this week so I’ve been taking the kids to the pool every day after school.  A few days ago while we were at the pool, our youngest was in the pool, peering up over the side watching a bee that had landed next to a puddle.  I could see he was frightened and was keeping a safe distance.  He was intrigued by the bee and was asking me all kinds of questions about this “enemy” of his.  I told him the bee wasn’t looking for him but was probably thirsty and looking for a drink of water (I had no idea why he landed by the puddle but was doing my best to sound like I did.  You know how that goes).  He asked me how the bee stings, where it lived, what it ate, etc..  And just then, a little girl and her mom walked by on their way out of the pool area wearing flip flops, didn’t see the bee, and stepped right on it, fatally injuring the little guy.  I was so touched by my son’s response.  He was sincerely sad and heartbroken that the bee was injured.  His face melted and his intrigue turned to sorrow for this little bug who, just 15 minutes ago was his enemy.

To me, this represents a tender part of childhood.   The small teaching moments.  The inevitability of facing fears.   The moments when children learn tough lessons.  The possibility of seeing the good in all things.  The moments that exemplify the innocence of children and the God-given compassion of children.  If only we could stay that way.  I hope to be able to recognize and appreciate these simple moments with my kids  more often.

Please make the rounds this week and take a peek at everyone’s interpretation of CHILDREN, starting with one of my favorite child photographers, Val Spring of  The Red Balloon Photography | Seattle Portrait Photographer.

Wishing all of the Mothers a wonderful weekend!