Hi friend,
Someone handed me the camera.
It happened so naturally that no one else probably thought twice about it.
“Can you take one?”
Of course.
I lined everyone up.
Smiled.
Snapped a few pictures.
And then someone turned toward me and said,
“Crystal, come get in one.”
For just a moment…
I hesitated.
I could already feel myself looking for a reason to stay where I was.
Maybe you’ve had a moment like that too.
Maybe you’ve become the family photographer.
Maybe you’ve quietly offered to take the picture instead of being in it.
Maybe you’ve scrolled through years of family memories and realized that somehow, you’re missing from so many of them.
Not because you weren’t there.
But because shame convinced you it was safer to stay behind the camera.
This week’s episode of Lift the Shame is about those moments.
About the quiet ways body shame can ask mothers to disappear—not only from photographs, but from the memories they’re helping create.
As I was reflecting on this episode, I kept thinking about how differently children remember a photograph than we do.
We notice our stomach.
Our smile.
Our arms.
They notice that we were there.
One day, your children won’t be looking at those pictures wondering whether your body was perfect.
They’ll simply be grateful that you’re in them.
I hope today’s conversation feels like a gentle reminder that your life isn’t waiting for the day you finally feel comfortable enough to be seen.
Your life is unfolding now.
And I hope this week’s conversation reminds you that you deserve to be part of it.
🎧 You can listen to this week’s episode in the podcast player above.
As always, thank you for letting me walk alongside you.
I’m so grateful you’re here.
With you,
Crystal 💛
P.S.
If this week’s episode stirred something in you, I wonder if you might accept one gentle invitation.
The next time someone says,
“Come get in the picture,”
notice the voice that wants to stay behind the camera.
You don’t have to argue with it.
You don’t have to make it disappear.
Just see if you can take one small step into the frame anyway.
Not because you’re fearless.
But because you deserve to be part of the memory.
