If I had to put a curse on my worst enemy, it would be forcing them to take an eternity of family photos for their annual holiday card.  

Every year, although my family miraculously ekes out cards with reasonably joyful faces, that holiday photo has been the result of 45 minutes of coaxing, frustration and unabashed bribery of the kids.  

I know I am not alone.  I know that the serene holiday cards we all receive are in truth, the output of endless misery, blinking when the camera snaps, and yelling at your children to stop poking each other in the eye.  

But somehow it all seems like a logical effort.  If you’re like me, many of your holiday cards are sent out to friends you rarely see during the year so this is the one time each year that they see updated photos of your family.    Naturally, I’d like them to think my children are adorable, obedient beings who graciously hug each other on demand.  Even if it’s not true. 

But still each year, I imagine a realm where the pressure of the holiday card didn’t exist… where more “accurate” pictures of our family would be socially acceptable as our holiday photo.  

What if, instead of curating “staged” photos of our smiling family, I could just ship out snapshots of the true moments we experienced as a household?   Sure, there are wonderfully heartwarming instances, but what if folks also saw the other parts of our day-- like the times when my kids are melting down, when my hair looks like it was attacked by squirrels, or when Max is throwing a tantrum because he can’t wear his snorkel to school? 

It’d be a lot easier to get those photos.

And for those folks who hear from me once a year, wouldn’t those photos be a more accurate representation of our family life?  

While I don’t know if I would ever actually do this, each year I wonder what would happen if I did.   It would definitely surprise the recipients of our annual card but it would also lessen the stress around the holiday card.  So I guess what I’m saying is… don’t be surprised if you see a photo of us all with bedhead next year!

What do you think?  Are you sending holiday photos this year? Was taking the photo stressful or fun?