As a mom, I know firsthand the desire to see my kids fit in with their friends while also feeling special and unique. Of course I want them to be accepted, but at the same time, I want them to feel confident and proud of who they are as individuals, though finding this balance can be a challenging! !

I assure you as a parent, it’s one that is well worth the effort.

From the moment our kids are born, we worry about how they will fit into the world around them.

We worry about whether they will make friends easily, or if they will be accepted by their classmates, whether they will be happy & fulfilled in their lives or if they’ll be miserable, insecure & feeling less than.

Say what you want, but I don’t know a single mom who wouldn’t want her kid to be well-liked and popular> > > but finding moms who also want their babes to be true to themselves & their unique personalities, well, that’s like a foreign language.

As our kids grow, we can see their individual personalities & talents emerge.
We start to see all of their quirks, watch them find their passions, & hone in on their various interests, & we want to encourage them to pursue these things > > > But what if what they like, who they are & what they’re into goes against society’s norms?

Do we really want them to know that it’s okay to be different, to stand out, and to be proud of who they are? ! Depends on who you ask. . .

I know that the majority of moms want their kids to feel a sense of belonging.

We want them to have friends.
We want them to be part of a community.
We want them to feel like they fit in.

Just like us, they desire a sense of connection & support that comes from being part of a group.

But how do you do this?
How do you HELP them fit in, when you know they were really BORN to stand out> ?

It starts with accepting & celebrating our children for who they are.
Not who we want them to be.
& certainly not who we wish we were > > >
(I’m screaming at you insane dad in the tee ball stands who wants his kid to go pro).

We have to embrace them,
their unique personalities & interests,
& actually encourage them to chase THEIR dreams & not just what society tells them they should chase.
(money. fame. ect. )

But more than anything, we have to HELP THEM develop confidence and self-esteem > > >

so that they can feel proud of who they are and what they have to offer> > >
even though we know the world is ready to KNOCK THEM DOWN & tell them they’re DUMB.
STUPID. or DIFFERENT. for thinking they’ll be absolutely A N Y T H I N G.

whe have to tell them that THEY get to DECIDE who THEY are.
& that they should 100% go for it.

But let’s face it.

We’re awkward.
Me. You.

Your mom.
Her mom.

We all need help learning how to navigate social situations & learning how to be confident in our interactions with others. It takes time. It takes effort. IT TAKES SELF AWARENESS, but it’s essential to help our KIDS thrive.

We have to help them develop the skills & confidence they need to navigate the world around them, & to feel proud of who they are & what they have to offer. But sis, you can’t TEACH THEM if you don’t even know how yet! !

As moms, we ALL want the best for our children.
Finding this balance is just one of the many challenges we face & if not, THE HARDEST ONE.

But with love, patience, & encouragement, we can help our kids find their place in the world, while also feeling special & unique. BUT IT STARTS WITH US <3

Now meet LU.

We met years ago when I captured her birth, with her daughter Tenley
(yes, we both loved Tenley from the bachelor) <3

& I’ve followed her insane growth on social in the years since & commend her on being a BOMB ASS MOM. Literally. When she found out she was pregnant with Tate (her first son) she was ecstatic.
But little did any of us (her loyal following) know, Tate would be “DIFFERENT” than your typical boy & she decided to not only EMBRACE his uniqueness, but make an entire WORLD embrace it too.

She’s open to her struggles as a mom all the time, and I was sobbing as she cried, when Tate started a new class & kids asked why he was so physically different.

She’s open in her struggles of what it means to teach a guy with only one hand how to buckle himself into his car seat or zip up his pants, things my 4yo with two perfectly working hands still can’t do.

She’s honest when she says her daughter missed a speaking engagement and she wanted to literally jump off a building over it because she knew how much it meant to her. . .

& I just think its SO MF INCREDIBLE that she shares it all with us.
the STRUGGLE that motherhood really is.

Bc she’s just like YOU.
& ME.

She wants her babies to be loved > > >
& not for what they AREN’T.

but what they ARE.

& THAT SHIT ISN’T EASY.

Whether it’s normalizing having only one hand.
Or normalizing why playing sports in highschool doesn’t actually mean ANYTHING.

or why it’s important to have HARD CONVERSATIONS with GROWN ADULTS so that kids can be kids for as long as possible without realizing they’ll likely NEVER live up to “society’s” expectations of them. . .

& why that’s 100% ok, as long as they are HAPPY. KIND. HUMANS.

She’s out here KILLING IT.
It’s obvious.
She’s beautiful. Her husband is fire.
Her kids are FLAW.LESS.

But it’s her strength as a mom.
An influencer.
& a voice, for ALL OF HER KIDS.

that makes me love her so much!

So obviously when she asked if I’d meet them on 30A for BEACH PORTRAITS I said.
DUH.

It was HANDS DOWN the windiest beach day of the entire year.
Madden sobbed nearly the entire time, Laiken created chaos & Tenley & Tate were absolute angels. . .
& it was the perfect mix of chaos to make an afternoon full of memories <3
As soon as she walked up she said “just help me with these saggy tits, k?”

I promised I would.

But can I tell yall the best part of my session ? ? ?

It was the very last photo, I asked Tate to put his arm around his sisters.
& he did.

He didn’t say “wait, let me swap to my other side”

he didn’t ask “hey, will this be ok?”

he didn’t say “I don’t really want this to be in the photo”
or “can you just make this look better?”

he didn’t say anything.
he just put his PERFECT LITTLE ARM AROUND THOSE GIRLS AND IT MADE MY ENTIRE DAMN YEAR.
<3

Because that’s how we raise the next generation.
Your imperfections.
Your differences.
The parts that don’t look like you wish they would or everyone says they should.
THEY’RE PERFECT.



Shout out to Lauren.
Follow her if you don’t (I SWEAR you won’t’ regret it)
she’s the real deal.
& I am honored to know & love her & her crew.


& I’ll go ahead and tell you,>>>
yes her teeth are real.
no, she doesn’t have veneers.


Thank Mulloy fam for having me.
& for being you.

LAUREN – – –
Your babes are so lucky to have you & we’re all super fortunate to get to follow along from all over the world.

Until next time <3

JB

PS. if you’re ready to take your OWN PHOTOS to the next level, my online virtual guide is on sale for just $99 NOW – MOTHER’S DAY!