School Pictures

School pictures were today. Taking pictures before school actually starts, so people can come in, get their photo taken, and leave, without hanging around waiting all day and wasting the better part of a school day—why didn't they think of that when I was in school?

I got GL cleaned up, and we walked to the school. He insisted on taking his weighted lap blanket. We must have hit it at a good time—there was only one person ahead of us. He was too cool to smile for his picture, so his mama made him sit again, and smile this time. No one shows up your pretensions of coolness like Mama! GL insisted on holding his blanket for the picture. I did convince him to hold it in his lap instead of hugging it like a teddy bear. As soon as she saw the blanket, the photographer visibly relaxed. She treated GL with dignity and respect—she didn't talk down to him—but with an extra helping of patience and gentleness. Sometimes having something that marks you as different can be good.