Dear Dads,

I know you're holding your phone right now. You probably always have your phone in your hand or at least in your pocket — we all do. Do her a favor and take more pictures.

No, not screenshots of a funny meme you just saw on Twitter.

I'm talking about pictures of her. The mother of your children. The love of your life. The one who works so hard with you to hold it all together for your precious family.

Take more pictures of her.

I looked through my phone the other day and realized I have tons of pictures of my husband playing with our kids, but we don't have many of ME with the kids. And it's totally my fault. I'm either always behind the camera, or never want him take a candid picture of me. I always feel like I have to have on makeup or have a good angle because I have a social media mentality. I always assume it will be posted and everyone will see it.

But it doesn't have to be that way. We need pictures of our family that include me. I love the pictures of just my kids, and I'm so thankful for the pictures I have of my kids and my husband, but it's so important for both of us to be in pictures with them.

Dads, if you have a wife like me, one night when she's lying in bed reading a story to your daughter, whip out your phone and take a picture.

Without warning.

Without posing.

Just take the picture.

When she's in the kitchen talking to your son about his day, take the picture.

If she's rolling around on the floor with the kids or helping one with their homework, take the picture.

Time goes by so fast and everyday these sweet babies are getting older and older. Before we know it, they'll be packing up their cars and moving off to college.

Take the picture.

One day she'll be gone and all the kids have left of her are memories.

Take the picture.

Take the pictures to show them the love she had for them. Take the pictures so they can always remember how silly she was. Take the pictures so they can see how beautiful she was. It doesn't matter if she's in her pajamas and on day 4 of dry shampoo, please, take the picture.

My mom passed away when I was 20 years old. All I have are pictures. I stare at the pictures of her holding me in her lap laughing at something cute I must have said. I zoom in on pictures of her hands to see if I have the same ones as I've gotten older.

You can't capture things like that in a selfie.

Please, take the picture.

I know you don't always think about it, but when you do, don't worry about anything else and just take the picture. Your kids (and your wife) will be so grateful in the end.

Cyndy Gatewood

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