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Her teacher held the oversized envelope tightly against her chest. She grimaced …

Her teacher held the oversized envelope tightly against her chest. She grimaced and said “I’m sorry” upon handing me the packet containing my daughter’s first-ever school pictures.

“Retakes are next month,” she continued. Her tone was a warning that disappointment awaited.

“They’re that bad, huh?” I responded, before lifting the flap to peek inside the envelope.

The teacher gave me a half-nod and said, “we tried.”

I presumed my daughter’s eyes might be shut or her hair adorned with streaks of finger paint. Heck, there might even be a dangling booger from her nose. After all, it’s quite unrealistic to anticipate toddlers staying clean and tidy for more than a fleeting moment.

“Geez, her teacher seems really concerned,” I thought, and wondered how a school picture could possibly be THAT awful.

I reluctantly slid one of the photos halfway out of the envelope and whatever concern there had been immediately dissolved.

I laughed. Hard. My heart was overflowing with all the best things at the sight of this image.

“Oh, we won’t be needing retakes,” I said.

Because this is my daughter. The real her. Eyes open and unamused by whatever nonsense was taking place in front of her.

I imagine she was facing a photographer who was trying to coax her into a feigned smile by waving around a floppy stuffed dog, or making bad jokes, or acting like a total goofball in an attempt to gain her favor.

But really, it was probably the baby talk that caused this expression on her face. Because this child has always met baby talk with utter disdain.

Whatever it was, she will not be made a fool of. Such behavior is beneath her.

She saves her smiles for things that speak to her soul. And there are A LOT of them. Just not school picture day thinly veiled under the façade of fun.

She doesn’t do phony.

And that’s okay with me.

I just pray she stays that way.

Credits: A Beautifully Burdened Life by Jenny Albers

Via Her View From Home