If you’ve welcomed a baby into your life recently, you’ve likely taken countless photos to capture those fleeting moments. From the instant they arrived in the world, their journey has been meticulously recorded and shared. With just a smartphone in hand, every precious memory is immortalized. Whether it’s through messaging, email, or social media, showing off your little one has never been easier. This is truly a gift.
My youngest is five, and I’ve managed to document nearly every day of her life with a photo. During my hospital stay when she was born, I snapped 266 pictures—just my own! That doesn’t include the countless shots taken by my husband, her grandparents, and various visitors. In fact, I have more photos from her first few days than I do of my eldest son’s first few months. This realization brings a tinge of sadness, though it was never my intention; he simply fell victim to the times.
My oldest, now 13, was born in 2008, a time before smartphones and social media became ubiquitous. My husband brought along a bulky camera to capture memories of our firstborn. We took a few snaps here and there, but it never crossed my mind to take hundreds. Back then, it just wasn’t the norm. In hindsight, that wasn’t so long ago, but it feels like a different era in how we document our lives. I spent time simply gazing into his eyes rather than seeking the perfect shot.
Most of the photos I have of him as a baby are etched in my memory. My husband gifted me a shiny red Kodak Easy Share camera, a significant investment for us at the time. It was exciting to take his picture and then download it onto my computer. If I was particularly proud, I might share it on Facebook. Our digital world was simpler then, yet looking back, I wish it had been more advanced.
While not being overwhelmed by social media’s demands was a blessing, it also meant I missed out on documenting countless moments. I lack videos of him taking his first steps or repeating words in adorable ways. I have to rely on my memory for those experiences. Yes, being present is valuable, but it doesn’t lessen my desire to revisit those early memories.
As I had more children, technology improved. I received my first iPhone shortly before my second son was born in 2010. Even then, I didn’t capture as many moments as I do now. However, his early life is still better documented than that of my oldest. I have footage of his first bites of food and adorable giggles. I even recorded him singing along to “Call Me Maybe” at just two years old.
Though I cherish the memories I have, they still don’t compare to what I have of my younger children. Thankfully, many photos exist of him as a baby alongside his big brother, whose bond was beautiful. Still, it saddens me that my oldest son’s journey was mainly captured starting at age three—I feel like I missed so much.
By the time my third son arrived in 2013, I was able to record videos from the hospital. He was introduced to Facebook shortly after birth. It was then that I truly began taking pictures and videos of my children almost daily. I was actively blogging and posting to social media multiple times a day, just like many others. It became a way of life.
For over eight years, my kids have graced my social media feed regularly, especially after the arrival of my daughter, who was a delightful surprise. Her birth announcement received nearly 500 likes—a significant number for me. As she grew, my followers wanted to see her. I dressed her in cute bows and dresses, flooding my feed with images of her alongside her three brothers. This routine of sharing has continued.
I hope that when my children grow older, they understand that the uneven amount of footage from their childhoods reflects not a lack of love or care, but rather the limitations of technology at the time. I don’t love my oldest son any less for having fewer pictures and videos. In some ways, those early years were more intimate, as they focused on our bond rather than an audience.
Had technology been slightly more advanced in 2008, I would have countless more recorded moments from my oldest’s infancy. While I’m saddened by the lack of memories captured, I’m not regretful of the absence of validation from social media during his early years. Those moments were authentic and special, centered solely on our connection rather than the world’s gaze.
I don’t resent smartphones and social media for how they’ve evolved. Without these changes, I wouldn’t have the career I cherish today. Yet, I can’t help but feel nostalgic when I look back at my memories and see the disparity in documentation between my older and younger children. I cannot alter the past or the technology of the time; I must focus on being grateful for what I have and rely on my memories. The music, scents, and sounds of that time take me back to my early days as a mother in the mid-2000s. I will always treasure those moments. While I can’t access them on my phone, they are forever etched in my heart.
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Summary:
The author reflects on the bittersweet feelings of documenting her first child’s life before smartphones became prevalent. While she cherishes the bond she had with her eldest son, she wishes there were more recorded memories. As technology improved with the birth of her subsequent children, she was able to capture more moments, leading to a disparity in documentation. Ultimately, she emphasizes the value of memories over social media validation and the irreplaceable nature of those early years.
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