(The post below was written on February 4, 2020. My mom passed on April 4, 2020.)
My 3 1/2-year-old niece took this photo last week. She picked up my phone and started pretending to take pictures, or at least I thought she was pretending because the screen was locked.
It wasn’t until later that I realized she somehow unlocked my phone and was actually taking pictures. That’s when I saw this photo.
This off-centered, completely candid photo.
And you know what? It makes me so damn proud.
Proud of my niece for somehow figuring out how to unlock my phone and capturing this beautiful moment.
Proud of myself for smiling while I’m feeding my mom instead of crying like I would have a few years ago.
Proud of all of us for showing up for my mom even though it’s ridiculously hard to do sometimes.
And most of all, proud that this is my 3 1/2-year-old niece’s view.
She sees us feeding my mom. She sees us taking care of her. She sees us showing up for her even when it’s hard. And she sees us smiling while we’re doing it.
She’s watching us.
And I’m so damn proud of what she sees.
