If one kid is doing something video-worthy, the other will be in mortal danger. Or, at the very least, fighting, screaming, running in front of the camera or generally ruining the home movie. So, which do you choose: kids, or vids?
I’ve Got To Get The Shot!
Brilliant winter sunshine. We are at the park. My baby and middle son are on the baby swings, giggling wildly, joyfully… video-worthily. Out comes my IPhone and ‘dink’, I press the red button. At exactly that point, a cry starts to resound around the playground. I am lost in trying to capture not only my moving targets, but that gorgeous ray of sunlight that will make my shot look so artsy and whimsical. “Mummy! MUM!” I wish that annoying kid would stop yelling, it’s spoiling my soundscape. The baby wobbles a bit in his swing; without stopping the tape, I right him and keep on pushing. Only gradually do I realise that the screaming is for me. I am “MUM!” Still aiming my phone, I turn to see Son No.1 hanging on for dear life on the one bit of the damn park he hasn’t mastered yet. He is clearly heading for a fall – yet I keep on videoing! I have to get this on tape for when I’m 80 in a nursing home! “MUMMMM!” the desperate cry comes again. I finally snap out of my red button trance and race to the rescue.
My video ends as all my videos do, with me shrieking and a blur as I shove it in my pocket still recording.
If A Picture Is Worth a 1,000 Words, a Video Is Worth An Encyclopaedia
My firstborn babe was safe. But I was gutted! Thwarted again! A video of my kids once more ruined by, er, my kids. I know what I should think – I should be aiming to capture life just as it is, and when I am 80 with a blanket on my knees, I will smile at the whole scene, not just the intended focus. Life is messy, why deny it?
Well, I say nay! It is surely a mother’s right to have some decent, rose-tinted, dreamy footage of her little babies to soothe her into her dotage? Can my big boys please not scream and fight in the background while I am capturing the baby’s first solo yoghurt with a spoon? Can my middle child please not wave a light sabre frenetically in front of the camera while his big brother spontaneously bursts into the song he’s learnt at school? Because I sure as heck won’t be able to get him to repeat the performance – every mum knows that.
But this gives me pause. When the red button is on, any interruption is an irritation – even an actual cry for help. It’s clearly madness. Also, I do believe, even if I don’t always practice, that just “being” in the moment, rather than recording every last drop of childhood, is more important. This is why I won’t hit the red button too often. Until the next time one of them does something really cute…
Is it just me whose kids ruin their home videos? Should I just hope that the passage of time alone will provide enough of a rosy tinge? 
Postpone the Home and Cancel the Blanket – when you are a mere 80, it will be your sons’ turn with the video as you bungee-jump, abseil, white water raft, or simply sashay down an enlightened cat-walk modelling Third Age Chic. And go with the rosy glow memories BTW, in case you think I’ve missed the whole blogging point.
Ha ha! I’m looking forward to my disco dotage now!
I’m the same as you! always trying to get nice photos and videos and never managing it. If you want to feel insanely jealous head over and check out Katie at mummydaddyme’s latest blog – i don’t know how she does it!
I just had a look. Sigh. My vids look ok (wobbly but the subjects are cute at least) as long as I turn the sound down and clip the end…
Ha – this is a great post. If they are doing something video worthy as soon as I get filming all they want to do is hold the camera, or shout POO at the top of their voices.
Oh yes, I left out the mini film-director thing that also happens. Or my oldest will stop doing the cute thing after 7 seconds and run towards the camera saying, can I watch the video now?
Ha my kids are always rushing me, I try but then give up 🙂 thanks for sharing at the weekend blog hop ..
My pleasure! Thanks for reading. x
Ha ha. Too true. Bloody kids- wreck everything!! 😉
I have to say that Grace regularly does something silly – especially at the end of the video! – but I tend to leave it in as I find it hilarious! Great post, thank you for linking to PoCoLo x