Feel free to discuss any topic of general interest, so long as nothing you post here is likely to be interpreted as insulting, and/or inflammatory, nor clearly designed to provoke any individual or group. Please be considerate of others feelings, and they will be considerate of yours.
My MIL called tonight and apparently was giving my husband her 2 cents about my oldest son He *hates* having his picture taken - and he is sulking in all of the group pictures from the reunion. They kept pushing and taking more and he just kept resisting....
I don't think this is particularly odd. I don't even like getting my pic taken now - it was definitely worse when I was a kid! He is tall and skinny and got braces this spring - I think he is a bit awkward and self-conscious. He has always been on the shy side. Plus we go across country and he sees all of these cousins who see each other all of the time - and has to "jump right in". I think he did fine - the only problem was when they persisted with the picture-taking...he was totally happy and interacted with everyone the rest of the time. She thought we should have him "evaluated". Umm for what?? Photo-obsessive-pushy-grandparent-ITIS?
I guess I am annoyed since she doesn't really even *know* him. Plus my family is much more hands off and laid back. The in-laws (sisters included) ask all sorts of questions that I don't feel are their business - so the feeling that they tend to push people who are already uncomfortable is not exclusive to the photo situation. I felt that way when I first met them (in fact I recall now my MIL was insisting the photographer take a picture of Mike and I together - it was his sister's wedding - we were just dating then - I was VERY unhappy about it but went along....I also purposely hid in the bathroom when they tossed the bouquet )
Hmmm - okay maybe *I* need to be evaluated - it seems like I'm the one with issues...
But seriously, people with older kids - I thought camera-shyness was pretty common for this age group (he's 9 - entering 4th grade...) - am I in denial about a "problem"??
Sounds to me as if you have a NORMAL son there! Maybe you should suggest to the grandparents that THEY need to be evaluated, Parents and inlaws can be pushy at times. Sometimes all we can do is vent. I hope you can get them to understand. Some kids are just shy. Love Oma
May I be more compassionate and loving than yeterday*and be able to spot the idiots in advance
Mary, I'd say your son is completely NORMAL! I remember both of my kids going through that phase. Actually, I'm still going through this phase! I don't like getting pictures taken either!
"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful." -- Buddha
Sounds normal to me. Especially not wanting to smile if he is a bit conscience about the braces. I remember those days. Not to mention, its hard to smile all pretty when you've got all that metal in your mouth (of course braces are much smaller these days ).
I think if thats all MIL can find to critic, your family is doing pretty darn good!
Morning all----and Mary--a very normal issue--
My son Doug, who is 43 still hates to take pics. but when I can grab him in a good mood I shall snap away---
I have *many* where he smiles before I click and then proceeds to make some silly looking smirk as I click---
The best I have is when he got married----
And when Deb comes to AZ. for a visit----- and of course when we arrive in AZ. he has the biggest lovable smile one could ever hope for---
Perfectly normal, IMHO. A non-issue. My niece's 9 year old girl actually has a meltdown if forced to be a family photo. (She's a bit of a drama queen).
And that was BEFORE she got her braces (blue and gold braces to match her swim teams's colors!).
Yes, it's good to live a long way from inlaws. I wish I did.
Barbara, your MIL won't have St. Peter's job forever. I have no doubt that my MIL will take it away from her when she arrives there eventually.
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Mary, don't worry one bit about your son's "camera shyness". Like Kate said, if that's all she found "wrong" then I'd say you have an exceptional child!!!!
I'm camera shy myself so I can sympathize with him.
Shirley
When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber"
-- Winston Churchill
I have to agree with eveyone else--that's a perfectly normal reaction for kids, especially boys. Most girls seem to be less hostile toward posing for family photos.
I can remember when I was that age. I used to drive my mom nuts. She would get her camera out, while we were "all dressed up", and try to take some good pictures, and I would invariably make some weird face, just as she released the shutter. The only photos of me for a number of years of my life, that didn't show me "making a face", were the ones where I was caught offguard. Yep, I was a little fiend, but you see how well I turned out. ... Wait a minute, that didn't help to make my point at all, did it? LOL. Oh well, most kids who do that, turn out just fine.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Thought I might post a picture of myself since it is so neat to see what everyone looks like. The last picture that I could find is almost ten years ago and is the back of my head taken by the stern paddler on a canoe trip. Now as much as that might give you some idea it was not what I had in mind. I have known people over the years from 4 to95 that resisted having their picture taken. I always think of the primitive tribes that feel that having their picture taken is like stealing their souls . Who knows.
I can remember one or two situations from as far back as the age of two, but only specks of memory, of course. Most of the oldest memories are triggered by smells, since that seems to be the way the filing system works. I remember very little of the next couple of years, just bits and peaces, but I can recall a reasonable amount from the years when I was around 5 and 6 years old, and more each year as I got older. I remember a heck of a lot from when I was 9 and 10 because I set up my own photo darkroom when I was nine, and I really enjoyed playing with photography.
Don't ask me what I did last week, though. LOL.
Love,
Wayne
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
He *hates* having his picture taken - and he is sulking in all of the group pictures from the reunion. They kept pushing and taking more and he just kept resisting....
)
).
Shirley
