The Family Photo
Way back in March, 2024, my kids gifted me with the best present I could ever want. They arranged a family weekend at our Lake Lakengren house just outside of Eaton, Ohio which included a photographer for some family photos. I was so happy. There’s nothing I love more than to have our big crazy crew together. Grandchildren bedlam, breakfast scrambles of all kinds, and opportunities to laugh and share define favorite for me. Our family has grown exponentially over the past few years, and we were way overdue in arranging a family pic that included everyone. And then, we found out we were expecting two more grandchildren. We decided to postpone the photo shoot until these little ones could be held in the arms of our collective love.
Our family is big with a lot of moving parts. Our four children have very active families of their own. In total, we have 12 grandchildren, some who play sports, tumble in gymnastics, pirouette in ballet, and many other littler ones still bound by snack and nap times. Rescheduling a family weekend is not easy.
In early January, I put out the announcement (including a notation in our shared Google Calendar) that our family photos were set for Father’s Day Weekend.
Some families are able to create Google Calendars for shared events and co-exist merrily along knowing full well what’s on the docket. That is not the case in my Romer world. That means, despite my best efforts, eventually I become the nag-in-chief with a blow horn. Over the last few months, I’ve reminded and reminded (some of my children who won’t be named) the need to keep this particular weekend open. This is how the last few weeks prior to fam weekend went down.
Son#1: (early April) “Mom, is there anything I need to be aware of regarding family time at the lake this summer?”
Son#2: (several days before set weekend) “Mom, so what’s going on this weekend? I need to double check, but I think Thomas might have a birthday party.”
Meanwhile, Daughters #1 and #2 were counseling me not to get stressed as the day approached.
I’M NOT STRESSED!
In reality, I knew it would all work out. After all, I’ve been the CEO if this family for all time.
My daughters and daughters-in-law took care of suggested wardrobe colors. I didn’t care. I just wanted everyone in the same frame. We also had a years worth supply of gummy bear snacks; the perfect bribery for anyone under the age of ten directed to smile for the camera.
The finished big family photo made my heart sing even more than I anticipated. Yes, each couple stood together cozy and tight, but our collective bunch of grandkids staked their own position. Getting everyone in the same frame was a frenzy, but a beautiful thing spontaneously happened. The lineup was a bit of a mishmash. Cousins who wanted to be next to each other were together. Amelia, our oldest, wanted to be with her uncle, so there she was. Regardless of nuclear family assignment, every child was touched; creating a seamless chain of belonging. Grandchildren connected by love extended from one end of the photo to the other.
It will be a while before we’re all together again, which makes me a tad forlorn. However, I have picture perfect proof of our big and boisterous time together. The Gummy Bears are gone, but my smile will linger for a very, very long time.