I worry one day soon you’ll wake and decide you feel too “grown up" for childhood anymore. Too grown for playing in mud, or exploring the yard with toilet paper roll binoculars, or climbing trees…

I hoped and prayed this wouldn’t be the year you let go of any child-like things…

And luckily it wasn’t.

You played harder, ran faster, and embraced the “wild inside” more than any other summer and for that I am grateful.

But the fear persists.

What if this is it? What if this is the last summer of completely blissful and unrestrained childhood for all of you at the same time?

I’m doing my best to not let it consume me.

So I do what I always do when I need to feel more grounded and present… I take pictures.

You fascinate me. To observe you three is like going back in time and looking at life through the eyes of childhood all over again. And I am reminded that my fears might even be unwarranted because you are not me. No.

Little Tanae at your age always felt some strange pressure to be bigger, more capable and more responsible than she was, (or needed to be…) but that doesn’t need to be true for you my sweet ones.

Be wild. Be free. For as long as you feel you ought to be.

Get dirty, run hard, play hard, let your tangles blow in the wind! Laugh loud, take up space, follow your curiosities and remember…

We’re in no rush to grow up my loves.

Artifact motherhood is a collaboration of artists/mothers from around the world. Sharing stories of the joys and struggles of our journey. Our hopes and dreams for our children. With little nuggets of wisdom here and there. These are more than photographs with dates written on the back. These are the artifacts we are leaving behind for children and the generations to come.

Please go to the next photographer and amazing artist, Kirsty Larmour and follow our loop.