We just had a waqtastic time at the portrait studio, so it’s another day closer Christmas (just 19 days to go!) and we still don’t have our family portrait or Christmas cards ready.  At this point, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to order my Christmas cards online like I had planned to, unless I shell out more moolah for some sort of express shipping.  As we were ushered into one of the rooms at the photo studio, littleQ, who had been pretty complacent the entire morning, suddenly started whining as if someone had just taken away his favorite car.  He just didn’t want to go into the studio, and wanted nothing to do with the photographer. 

From there, it just all went downhill.  He was soon in tears as nothing we did or offered (even the bribes of chocolate and new toy cars.. yes, bad mommy) could induce him to sit still.  All he wanted to do was to put on his coat and leave the studio!  After the tears came the wails of indignation as the photographer, then the two owners/managers of the studio endeavored to  coax a smile out of littleQ.

I was so frustrated at this point, plus I’m sure my pregnant-mama hormones had something to do with it.  We had been in the studio for 20 minutes and from the time we entered littleQ had been either whining, begging to go home or crying and screaming as loud as he could, refusing and smacking away any and all the toys and props being offered up to him.

I burst into tears.  Through all the tantrums, all the stubborn behavior, all the speech issues, for the first time ever, I lost my cool and bawled like a baby.. and it happened in public.  I feel like I’ve failed just a little bit as a mother because, well, my own precious child is that child who screams and cries at little or no provocation and when he doesn’t get his way.  I know, other mothers go through the same thing, but I have to admit that before I had my son, I was one of those people who used to just think “Jeez make your kid keep quiet” when I passed a child giving a truly exceptional screaming performance at the mall or supermarket, not giving any consideration as to what frustration and possibly embarrassment that mother might be feeling.

Well, the owner was very, very understanding, and she even gave me a hug and said we’d try again on Monday… but this time I’ll be armed with our iDog and iPod so littleQ will hopefully stay amused with Paradise City on repeat.

Although we’d had a similar problem almost a year ago, I assumed littleQ wouldn’t have the same reaction.  After all, he loves the Nikon D50 that I’ve had for a few years, and he likes it when I take photos of him or when we take photos of his toys together.

Damn motherhood can be frustrating sometimes.

Technorati Tags: motherhood, life, tantrums, toddler, photo studio

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One Response to “Tears at the Photo Studio”

1. Andrea Says:
   December 7th, 2008 at 8:16 am

   Oh how I used to think the same thing…why can’t you get your child to behave…now I’m the one offering the look af genuine compassion and wanting to offer to take your other child for you so you can deal with the “situation” (I don’t offer – because I don’t want you to think I’m a psycho!).

   Sorry you had a hard time at the photo studio, but Monday will be another day!