Child ruins every picture!

[Magpie]

I absolutely LOVE the original photo!

Me, too!

(I don't know about anyone else, but I see something terrifying in the reoriented eyes of the "fixed" photo. It's a wee bit of the Uncanny Valley.)

 

[tzolkin]

To be fair, that annoying and disrespectful face may be the more honest reflection of the child's personality and relationship with the rest of the family.

If after all the arguing, stomping, whining and disrespect, you somehow actually manage to browbeat, threaten and otherwise bully the kid into faking a "nice" smile for the camera... isn't that "perfect" photo actually the biggest lie of all?

Yes, it is an honest reflection. I was just trying to give some perspective about why the OP would be upset by it.

Others are chastising her for not being thrilled and cherishing the "true" photos. But every time she looks at them she is reminded of the conflict throughout the trip. I just think her feelings are justified.

I don't think that the child should have been bullied and forced into taking a "perfect" photo. Quite the opposite actually. The fact that there was conflict over this at all tarnishes the memories of the trip, so I certainly wasn't suggesting that the issue should have escalated to make it even more miserable. In this situation, I (like the OP) would be annoyed with the kid for not willingly choosing to take a few nice photos. If it had gone to the level you describe, I would be upset with both the child and the adults for creating such an unpleasant experience during our vacation.

 

[mom2rtk]

Yes, it is an honest reflection. I was just trying to give some perspective about why the OP would be upset by it.

Others are chastising her for not being thrilled and cherishing the "true" photos. But every time she looks at them she is reminded of the conflict throughout the trip. I just think her feelings are justified.

I don't think that the child should have been bullied and forced into taking a "perfect" photo. Quite the opposite actually. The fact that there was conflict over this at all tarnishes the memories of the trip, so I certainly wasn't suggesting that the issue should have escalated to make it even more miserable. In this situation, I (like the OP) would be annoyed with the kid for not willingly choosing to take a few nice photos. If it had gone to the level you describe, I would be upset with both the child and the adults for creating such an unpleasant experience during our vacation.

It could be that the OP does find some of those silly face photos amusing and a fun addition to the photo album. But she's still entitled to be disappointed that even after being asked to stop doing it, the girl couldn't manage to do one photo for grandma the other way.

 

[MIGrandma]

When DH and I went to Disneyworld with our DD and her DH and two children (they were 6 and 10 at the time) and the other set of grandparents we had ONE family photo taken in front of the castle. You can see everyone's face clearly, except for our granddaughter. She held her hands up by her face to "shield the sun" as it was too bright. No one knew she did it until after the photo was taken. None of us cared THAT much to ask someone to take another photo, but I do wish she hadn't done it as her face is completely shadowed by her hands.

Now, if she was 12 years old and made faces, did bunny ears, etc. in every single family photo, and didn't stop even after being asked multiple times to stop as what happened with the OP, then yes, I would have been irritated too. I don't think it's too much to ask for ONE nice family photo where no one is mugging for the camera. If the child didn't want to smile, that's one thing, but to purposely do things to try and spoil the pictures is another. I like what a PP said her family does, they take a photo with everyone acting silly, then take another where everyone smiles. That's the best of both worlds.

 

[Mizzoufan]

She's 12 at Disney having fun. Isn't that the whole point of Disney?

 

[lizabu]

After years and years of different kids going through that 'phase'.... unless it's a really serious fancy professional setup,like someones special wedding photo I just have to laugh at those dingbat faces kids make..... I have SO many funny shots from over the years, and I actually like the ones with a little personality (even teenage personality!) showing through- it's a standing family joke with certain family members and group photos...... "Smile!" ...... "but I AM smiling!" our last trip my son (who thinks he's smiling lol) asked me "WHY do you post a photo of me looking like that online?" um...well it's b/c you look like that in every pic!

This was exactly it. Every time we went to take a pic she made a moody teenager face. Sometimes even crossing her arms in front of her. We asked her not to do that but she continued. We took some pics without her and the ones with her in them I still used. The rest of us looked nice. Lol

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

She's 12 at Disney having fun. Isn't that the whole point of Disney?

Even after she was asked to stop making faces?

I guess that explains why so many children are unruly at Disney. They are just having fun.

 

[RedAngie]

To be fair, that annoying and disrespectful face may be the more honest reflection of the child's personality and relationship with the rest of the family.

If after all the arguing, stomping, whining and disrespect, you somehow actually manage to browbeat, threaten and otherwise bully the kid into faking a "nice" smile for the camera... isn't that "perfect" photo actually the biggest lie of all?

And if it's a lie, so what? The kid is old enough to understand the concept of lying to please Grandma.

 

[Magpie]

And if it's a lie, so what? The kid is old enough to understand the concept of lying to please Grandma.

Sure! "And this is the family I wish I had. Don't they look nice?"

 

[tzolkin]

She's 12 at Disney having fun. Isn't that the whole point of Disney?

She was being repeatedly reprimanded and continued doing something just to annoy and upset her parents and grandparents. That just doesn't seem like fun for either side to me.

If my DS was doing something extremely annoying to his sisters and would not let up, I wouldn't shrug it off as "he's just having fun at Disney." His "fun" shouldn't be at the expense of everyone else's enjoyment.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Sure! "And this is the family I wish I had. Don't they look nice?"

Of course grandma could put up a picture with the child mugging for the camera.

And she could tell people, "Well, yes that is our family. Yes, she is a little brat. But we hope she realizes at some point that life isn't all about her."

 

[Magpie]

This was exactly it. Every time we went to take a pic she made a moody teenager face. Sometimes even crossing her arms in front of her. We asked her not to do that but she continued. We took some pics without her and the ones with her in them I still used. The rest of us looked nice. Lol

Ouch, it's really hard being an awkward teenager. Especially when you're feeling like everyone else "looks nice" and you're the only one who doesn't.

I'm imagining the kid thinking, "It's my FACE! I can't CHANGE it!"

And, "What am I SUPPOSED to do with my arms!?"

It sounds like an excruciating experience for everyone.

 

[Magpie]

Of course grandma could put up a picture with the child mugging for the camera.

And she could tell people, "Well, yes that is our family. Yes, she is a little brat. But we hope she realizes at some point that life isn't all about her."

Yes, she could. Or she could do what my grandma would do and just smile politely and say, "Yes, that's our Magpie. She's a firecracker."

OR, personally, if it's a situation like the one described above with "moody teen face" and crossed arms, I'd just say honestly, "It's really hard being a teenager, isn't it? Especially being dragged around Walt Disney World with your embarrassing family."

 

[lizabu]

Yes, she could. Or she could do what my grandma would do and just smile politely and say, "Yes, that's our Magpie. She's a firecracker."

OR, personally, if it's a situation like the one described above with "moody teen face" and crossed arms, I'd just say honestly, "It's really hard being a teenager, isn't it? Especially being dragged around Walt Disney World with your embarrassing family."

That's a great way to say it. We decided not to make it worse than it was by making a big issue of it. I think she just didn't want her picture taken.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I keep checking back to see if OP came back to respond. Apparently not.

 

[luvsJack]

I didn't realize that some people hold so much importance to a photo taken in front of the castle. Good night!

 

[luvsJack]

Of course grandma could put up a picture with the child mugging for the camera.

And she could tell people, "Well, yes that is our family. Yes, she is a little brat. But we hope she realizes at some point that life isn't all about her."

But it IS all about grandma?

 

[RedAngie]

Sure! "And this is the family I wish I had. Don't they look nice?"

And what's wrong with that? Oh, I get it, mustn't stifle little bratface's creativity or hurt her self-esteem.

But it IS all about grandma?

Yep, if she's the one paying for the photos and wants a few without the kid being a snot.

 

[luvsJack]

And what's wrong with that? Oh, I get it, mustn't stifle little bratface's creativity or hurt her self-esteem.



Yep, if she's the one paying for the photos and wants a few without the kid being a snot.

And I get that but does a 12 year old? If you say to a 12 year old, "its not all about you, grandma wants these pictures to be nice" most are at least going to think "so why is it all about her?".

I have to wonder, how many pictures were actually taken? Sometimes in the rush to get our money's worth, we can really over do the whole picture thing. Heck, I start wanting to "mug" for the camera after awhile.


Oh, and I don't think its really fair to call the kid a brat. We don't know how it all really went. But its not about stifling anything. I think that for some of us it just really is not a big deal.

 

[gwynne]

And I get that but does a 12 year old? If you say to a 12 year old, "its not all about you, grandma wants these pictures to be nice" most are at least going to think "so why is it all about her?".

I have to wonder, how many pictures were actually taken? Sometimes in the rush to get our money's worth, we can really over do the whole picture thing. Heck, I start wanting to "mug" for the camera after awhile.


Oh, and I don't think its really fair to call the kid a brat. We don't know how it all really went. But its not about stifling anything. I think that for some of us it just really is not a big deal.

Isn't it part of the basic responsibility of parenting to teach kids the world doesn't totally revolve around them? A 12 year old is certainly old enough to engage in a few discussions about give and take, being kind and understanding. Most 12 year olds need to transportation to sports practice, activities or the occasional birthday party or sleepover. That doesn't happen by magic. I would explain that others do for you, sometimes you do for others.

Of course, this is balanced with recognizing they are kids. A little leeway helps. As we has been mentioned throughout this thread take a couple of goofy shots and enjoy those moments, too.