You might recall that for a very short spell, on Ciao Chow Bambina, I had a page dedicated to just photography. There were no recipes or commentary, just my pictures; I called it Textless Tuesdays. I did it for a number of weeks but for some reason I drifted away from it. Until today. I am so thrilled to be writing this particular post, on a Tuesday, because I’m about to share with you a very special photography website. This site is textless, however, it speaks a thousand words.
Our daughter, Lauren (aka Lucy), who as you know, moved to sunny California in June, has been working very diligently on bringing her photography business to the next level. She has built a beautiful website to showcase her work and I have the privilege to share it here with you today! Luc has been working on this site for months and months and months and just about every day I would ask her, “Is it ready yet?” and she always had a very good reason for why it wasn’t. So in the meantime, she taught me patience. I love her photography and there is no denying that she is the reason I picked up a camera. Lucy first started taking pictures when she was 16. We took a family vacation to Italy and she documented the entire trip through her curious adolescent eyes in very sophisticated ways, but it was her foodie pictures in Paris, from a few years later, that really spoke to me.
I was recently asked if Lauren’s talent for photography is a result of me, or if mine is a result of her. I had never thought about it – but I pondered the question for a moment and said, “Who knows?”. I mean, what came first, the chicken or the egg? Is there a photography gene? Could I have passed this on to her? Of course I’m being silly… What I do know for sure is that I learn from my daughter, everyday, and if there is any part of what I bring to the table that has influenced her – then man, that’s my payday. I am just scratching the surface of something that she has had immense passion for, for many years, and it shows. Lucy is an artist. She sings, she has a flair for the dramatic, and she can capture the essence of people and life through her photography.
Lauren is living a life that, in very few places, mirrors the life that I lead at 23. And it shouldn’t. I was a first year teacher in a small suburb of Syracuse, NY, and she’s fighting the good fight to become a professional artist in Los Angeles. We’ve had numerous late-night discussions about what she wants her life to be…and it was during a very recent conversation that I realized that my role as her parent is changing. I pray that our ability to communicate honestly with each other, will never change, however, it dawned on me that her life is going to open up in its own way, with a rhythm all its own; she doesn’t need for me to say, “What if you try this?”, what she needs is to know that we love her and we’re here for her, in the way that SHE needs us to be. Period. At every turn, when Lucy has needed to make a change, she’s made it, and she’s always leaned toward the direction of her dream. That’s all we’ve ever wanted for our kids.
I am so grateful for having learned this lesson. I know it’s a difficult one for any child to have to teach their parent, and a difficult lesson for many parents to have to learn, but by this age, it is their turn to figure out the world that they live in and how they want to live in it – just like we did when we were that age. Everyone deserves the gifts of their own discoveries…
So…here it is! The link to Lucy’s website…and a tiny glimpse into her world.
Please enjoy!
Ciao!
Gosh how LUCKY am I to have a mama like you? Thank you for this post. It truly truly touched me. And thank you for not being afraid to grow with me. This journey into adulthood is pretty crazy, and I am so grateful to have parents that are sticking with me through it! You guys are the BEST!
Huge thank you’s to Pop and Karen for checking out the site! I’m so glad you like it!!
Xo.
Lucy
How lucky are we? It is our privilege to be along for your ride! Phases and stages, right Sweeta? It never ends…Thanks for making our family eternally proud. XOXO
Annie,
Lucy’s website is AWESOME!
Your comments remind me of a simple child-rearing metaphor: The time always arrives when the training wheels must come off. Once off, two predictable outcomes appear. (1) The parent runs along side the bike offering support and security. (2) There is always that first tumble. BUT, the beauty of this is that the training wheels never go back on. Your child adjusts and experiences that profound rush and sense of freedom that comes from the joy of that first solo ride. I’ve proudly watched you and Dom navigate through many iterations of this metaphor with your children growing up over the years. AND, it is true, you know when to remove yourself from the frame but never from the total picture. You are always present in the background, running along side them, doing what you do best, providing support and encouragement.
Love you,
Dad
Awww, I don’t think Luc will mind if I say thanks on her behalf! So, who knew this stage of life would offer up so many new lessons to be learned? Thank goodness I enjoy being a student! Thanks, Dad! I love the picture you’ve painted. XOXO
Good Morning Ann. Lauren’s website is awesome…thank you for sharing it. I really enjoyed your blog today. It provided great insight and perspective about children growing older and finding their way. “Everyone deserves the gifts of their own discoveries”…I love it.
Thank you, Karen. Luc will love knowing that you like her website! It’s so exciting to watch our children grow but equally exciting to grow right along side them. We are blessed.
The beautiful thing is, when you show your kids the world and tell them don’t be afraid (and mean it), they will embrace it! We are all learning every step of the way, as a parent and as an adult child. Love and Respect for each other is always the key! Love you!
I am so thankful to have you to raise our children with… love you.