You don’t have to be a teacher to understand the chaos that is Picture Day in an elementary school.
The parents are stressed out about their child making it to school without spilling cereal on their neatly pressed shirts.
The teachers are stressed out about the major interruption that picture day causes to their classroom routine.
And for some reason…those flimsy little combs the photographers give the kids right before they flash their pearly whites make the students almost as hyper on Picture Day as they are right before Christmas Break. Teachers out there…you know what I’m talking about.
The following conversation occurred between myself and one of my second graders a few years back on this infamous Picture Day…
“Good morning Alex! Are you all ready for picture day?”
“Hi Mrs. Perkins! Yes! I was practicing my smile in front of the mirror all night long!”
“You were? That’s great. Well, I’m sure your pictures will turn out perfectly.”
“Well, I hope so. My mom says when I smile, I need to relax. But I like my smile just the way it is.”
And that my friends-is why spending your day surrounded by children (be it as a teacher, nurse, momma, etc.) is a priceless gift.
When the rest of the world is hurting because of grocery store shootings and earthquake aftermaths…one can always count on a child to bring it back into perspective. It doesn’t take much to please them. And the lens with which they view the world and themselves is not only refreshing-but in my opinion, inspiring.
**Stepping off my soapbox**
The reason I shared this Picture Day story with you…well-I think I finally get what my student’s mom was talking about when she told her son “to relax” when he smiles…
Can we say “cheese.”
Henry has figured out the picture thing. Now-when we stick a camera in his face and tell him to smile, he knows exactly what to do. And his smiles tend to be ahem-a bit exaggerated.
And yes-in a few years if Henry’s still smiling like this when he goes to Kindergarten, I can see myself saying something along the lines of “Honey-just relax when you smile” on Picture Day. But I won’t worry about it too much-unless of course he’s still smiling like this on his wedding day.
Happy day loyal PERKS followers…we’ve almost made it to the weekend-and that is certainly something to smile about.
lifeisfullofperks.wordpress.com 
I’m smiling here in NKY! Particularly because I’m up at the break of dawn to ensure we have an hour delay…and we do! YAY!
Lil peanut is too precious with his “cheese” smile. He’ll have something to really smile about here soon with the impending arrival of Baby M! Can’t wait!
LOL…. that was CUTE!!! he was ready for that one 🙂
and yes picture day at school is not my favorite day of the year for all of the reasons listed. but what may be worse is the day that you pass the pictures back. they can barely contain their excitement as you are passing the pictures out…. and when they do receive them they quickly turn them facedown in embarrasement (at least that is what middle schoolers do!!). probably wishing that they had listened to their mothers advice!
I’m lovin’ your lil cheesin’ man!!!!
He does have a cheesy smile:) Love it!!
That smile is cracking me up. At least he doesn’t do the “scrunch face.” do u remember when Walker went through that phase? It was not a good look:)
I LOVE his smile. And I love your story too. It’s so true that life in an elementary school puts everything into perspective. Just one of the 203850 reasons I love my job…although Picture Day probably isn’t another reason. I feel your pain there. 😉
I love this picture!