Ma’am, My Child Is Not Visible in the Photograph…
Ma’am, My Child Is Not Visible in the Photograph… Understanding Why Every Child Does Not Need to Stand in the Spotlight One of the most common questions schools hear after annual functions, classroom activities, assemblies, sports days, or event photographs is: “Ma’am, my child is not visible in the photograph.” “Why is my child standing at the back?” “Why is he not in the front row?” “Why does my child never seem to be doing anything?” They come from something much softer— a parent’s love mixed with anxiety. “I want my child to be noticed.” “I want people to see how capable my child is.” And often, these questions do not come from anger. Because somewhere inside every parent lives a dream: “I want my child to shine.” But sometimes, without realising it, we begin measuring our child’s happiness, participation, and confidence by one thing: How visible they appear. And that is where we need to pause and rethink. A Photograph Captures a Moment—Not a Child’s Entire ...
