“Mommy, why are you taking a picture of those weeds?” he hollered at me as he zoomed by on his bike, doing laps in the driveway, round and round. The sky was overcast but the temperature was perfect outside. Spring was definitely in the air.
I turned around, noticing he was due for a haircut and admiring his piercing blue eyes looking back at me. “Because the flowers are cute and Mommy is trying to learn how to use her camera better.”
“But Mommy, I thought you didn’t like weeds.”
“I normally don’t but I like these little flowers on this one so I’m taking a picture of them.”
“Oh.” I could see out of the corner of my eye that his mind was spinning with more questions and that he was looking at me kind of funny.
Just then his brother came running up to me from behind, trying to tackle me as I knelt on one knee. I toppled over on my side and thankfully my camera and I were fine but the “weeds” didn’t fare as well. I crushed them as I fell. Afterward, I sat down on my bottom and began to review the pictures on my camera. I was glad to have gotten a shot I was happy with before “Mr. Destructo” came at me with his full force.
He giggled as I looked at the photos and said, “Oh Mommy, I tackle you! Here I come again!”
“No Gavin! Mommy is trying to take pictures right now. Go play with your brother. Don’t’ you want to ride the four-wheeler?”
He ran off and hopped on his “truck” in the garage and pushed the button to make it go. A huge smile came across his face as he followed behind his brother. I liked it while they played outside during their baby sister’s nap so I could take a few pictures here and there.
I sat there amongst the grass and weeds and thought about how my son was right, I was not a fan of these unsightly weeds but today I had chosen to see the good side of them and capture it with my lens.
Later on that evening, after dinner and baths I was looking at the photos I’d taken that day on my laptop. Ben sat down next to me on the sofa. “What cha doin’ Mama?”
“Oh, I’m just looking at the photos I took today while we were outside this afternoon.” He leaned his little boy head against my shoulder as I went through each picture but sat straight up when I got to the picture of the weed flowers.
“I like that one Mama, those flowers are pretty. Where were they?”
“Those are the ones that were on the weeds, remember?”
“Oh yeah, that turned out really good! No wonder you wanted to take a picture. I like it a lot Mama. Great job!”
And in the same moment he was off, taking his newly-washed hair scent with him. I sat before my computer just staring at the photo and loving it more as I realized that tomorrow, when the lawn guy came to mow, that “ugly” weed and all of it’s “friends” would be completely gone. And then I was a little sad. But so very glad I had my photo.
This post was written for The Red Dress Club prompt: This week’s assignment is to write a short piece, either fiction or non-fiction, about something ugly – and find the beauty in it.
Lovely photo, and the sentiment behind is so sweet! Sometimes it takes someone (a kiddo, usually) or something (a camera) to help us see the beauty all around us!
Those are really pretty flowers. My daughter LOVES dandelions (all kids do I guess) but all I can see is the weed 🙂
Great photo, but an even better story, and a priceless lesson.
Fantastic post, beautiful photo. I have been trying to figure out how to incorporate my photography with this prompt. You did it! Well done.
Oh I just love this. Gorgeous photo! Just wait until you get that 50 1.4!
i love the story! this was non-fiction, right? i am really jealous of your weeds. i can’t wait for things that grow to start their growing.
(even weed things)
Hey Elaine, My friend from way back when! I am just getting caught up on some favorites and had to come by your place. Love your writing and the photo of the “weeds” is beautiful (my weeds don’t look anything like that!)
That photo is gorgeous! Photography always makes you see things differently.
ahhh I love this! What a beautiful photo. And let me tell you, I have 4 little boys…I loved your story of your little guy. Isn’t that how it is?! THey are rough and tumble and full of energy…but beautiful in those random still moments! Stopping by from red dress club.
Great story! Photo is gorgeous, wish I had better picture taking skills! I am a big fan of dialogue in stories and I really loved how you used it as a tool to help move your story along.
Great job. And I love your weed pic. You’re a very talented writer and photographer.
Proof anything can be made beautiful with the right angle and right perspective..
Loved it & thanks for sharing
Wow, Elaine! Wow. Beautiful shot.
I think it’s so great to take photos around your house and then frame them for decor inside your house. We have a series of 6 photos done with that same type of idea!
Kids make you look at those ‘weeds’ in a whole new light.
Wow, what an awesome shot, and precious story!
Steph
It is incredible how kids have this uncanny way of reminding us that there is beauty in every and anything. Even weeds. Now, me? I like those “flowers” because to me anything that isn’t ratty looking is a flower. And makes me sneeze. But they’re still pretty. Especially when my 4yo brings them to me after tearing them from the ground. So that’s the beauty in my allergies. 😉 Great writing AND picture!
Great photo, and I like the story behind it too!
I can remember being a little girl & thinking fields of dandelions were spectacular. Your photo is gorgeous, by the way!
Well done! It takes the innocence of a child to remind what’s beautiful, doesn’t it? Lovely photo and story to go with it.
“Oh yeah, that turned out really good! No wonder you wanted to take a picture. I like it a lot Mama. Great job!”
Priceless.
I love the pic- and such a sweet story to go alone with it.
Great post. Wonderful sentiment and fabulous photography.
The bokeh in this image is insane! What camera do you use?
This is one of the things I love (and hate) about photography. Finding beauty in the world, even when they are seemingly “bad” things like weeds, is challenging. I love that your son *got* it in the end. Great story!
Wow! Gorgeous picture! I’m going to call that weed a flower.
I can’t believe you snapped it while fending off tackles.
Such a fleeting moment and a great picture to remind you of it.
You have a knack for photography, that’s for sure. Lovely picture. Poignant story, very well written. Nicely done!
They are pretty!
And as for getting knocked down on your bottom? Totally been there! They’re strong little buggers, aren’t they? 🙂
What a lovely story.
And that weed shot? Swoon! Gorgeous depth-of-field.
So beautiful!
I’m grabbing your feed now… 😉
That photo is gorgeous! Like tiny fireworks. Incredible job Elaine.
And the boys, too adorable, per usual. I too will be sad once the weeds are gone. Youngest likes to gift me with dandelions on a continual basis. Be still my heart.
LOVE that picture. I have a thing about taking pictures of dead trees. There is beauty everywhere, if you look close enough. I bet your son got a little bit of that message.