“There’s no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.” – Jill Churchill

I am a perfectionist by nature and that tendency definitely extends into my role as a mother. I have high ideals for myself (ideals mostly created before I had a child, of course, or while he was still an infant content to snuggle peacefully in my arms!) but those ideals often come crashing into the reality of my life right now. So in this real life wrestle of motherhood, I sometimes need that reminder that while I will never be a perfect mother, I can be a good mother (and that sometimes being a good mother just means focusing on being present in the moment in simple ways).

Do you need that reminder, too? Here are just a few simple ways that you can connect one-on-one with your child and be present in the moment:

• Read a book together
• Listen to your child
• Take a walk together
• Push them on a swing
• Cook something together
• Sit down and play a game together
• Dance together (even if you look silly!)
• Invite them to help you with whatever chore you’re working on
•  Just snuggle for a little bit

What are your favorite ways to connect one-on-one with your child? Share them in the comments below!

(Do you want to set up a custom mommy and me photo session to intentionally connect with your child, be present in the moment, and remember the beauty of motherhood? Send me a message to start the conversation!)

It might be the introvert in me, but I have a special fondness for sunrise. Whenever we’re on vacation, I try to set aside at least one morning where I set my alarm a little earlier than normal so I can creep out and appreciate the sunrise over whatever lovely place we’re visiting. And I am beyond excited whenever someone agrees to a sunrise photo session.

Because there is something uniquely intimate about sunrise sessions.

It starts with the early morning drive in the dark, with only a few other headlights piercing the dark streets around you and (if you’re like me) the scent of coffee still lingering in the car. Then there’s that faint whisper of light creeping across the landscape, the silvery blue of the not-yet dawn as the morning dew brushes against your feet. Then, as the bird songs rise around you, the gentle pinks and golds spread across the horizon and a blush of light wraps around your face. And then finally, that burst of golden sunlight crests the horizon and bathes everything in a warm light. There’s a breathtaking beauty in the whole process that invites you to hush your words, close your eyes, breathe deep, and draw close to the ones you love.

Of course, there is still the blare of your alarm breaking your early morning slumber, not to mention the daunting task of getting yourself (and potentially several small children) picture-ready before the sun is even up. But believe me, this magic is worth it (and getting your outfits – and coffee – ready and set out the night before can go a long way in making that morning scramble a little smoother).

So why should you consider scheduling a sunrise photo session?

1) Even the most popular locations are rarely crowded at sunrise, so you can enjoy the quiet intimacy of these moments together.

2) The softness of that dawn light allows you to use some wide open locations without any shade (like beaches and open fields) where the light quickly becomes too harsh later in the day.

3) Sometimes you even catch some fog or mist rising in those early morning hours (especially if you choose a location with water). The golden sun shining through morning mist is one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen in my life.

4) Your portrait session starts and finishes early in the day before most people are up, so you have the rest of the day to relax and enjoy. You can even make a full outing out of it and treat yourself to breakfast out afterwards.

5) The light and colors in that sunrise progression, from the cool blues of dawn, to the soft pinks just before sunrise, to the rich golds as the sun crests the horizon, are really unparalleled. And that soft light is far more flattering than the light you’ll find even an hour or two later.

And if you need any more convincing, check out some favorites from the Gripka family’s sweet sunrise session last October. I was so glad they braved the early morning drive, even with two littles, to spend some time cuddling (and dancing!) by the edge of the lake at Shawnee Mission Park.