Blog #483: Christmas Card Photos Aren't For Everyone

As we enter the final months of the year, I’m pretty sure that all of you out there are preparing to take or have already taken Christmas card photos for the year. Being forced to pose and smile for the camera on account that other members of your family and friends want to see how you’ve grown over the past year.

In fact, as I am typing this up, I get flashbacks of being badgered to smile and pushed to the limit just for taking Christmas Card photos. Being in front of the camera during Christmas Card photo shoots was tormenting and sensory overloading. Remember that both sides of my family are very large, so the demand was high and everybody else wanted to take part in this tradition.

…

Now, I’m sure you might be wondering why I detest doing Christmas Card Photos? Sometimes, I’ll have people say to me that “They’re fun to do and people will see you all grown up for another year, where’s your Christmas spirit?”

The truth of the matter is that I was just never cut out for taking Christmas Card photos. I didn’t want to do it, but I was forced into doing it for the sake of my mother.

…

But if there is one thing that a lot of families tend to forget is that Christmas Card photos are not mandatory. Your child, especially if he or she is neurodivergent, does not have to partake in the ritual that is Christmas Card photos. As I have said time after time, getting Christmas Card photos should be viewed as an option and not as a mandate.

Take it from me, in my line of work, I either take pictures to document events and trips or have my picture taken with anyone who attends my talks. I have no time, nor do I have the patience to pose for a Christmas Card photo.

…

An example of being forced into something we don’t want to be in takes place in the “Pokemon Concierge” episode, “Welcome to the Pokemon Resort!” In the episode, a Pokemon Trainer named Nao wants his Pikachu to be more outgoing and enlists the main character, Naru, and her Psyduck to help Pikachu be more outgoing and vocal. Eventually, after a while, they all come to accept the fact that Pikachu is still Pikachu and if he wants to be who he is, then so be it.

I feel that ever since having the first encounter with that episode, I tend to put myself in the shoes of Pikachu. He was being forced to do something he didn’t want to do and he couldn’t show his emotions. He was getting more harm than good into his system.

…

Which brings me back to the topic of Christmas Card photos, if you are forcing your neurodivergent child to be in the photos, you are hurting their psyche and potentially giving them PTSD as a result. Yes, I know we want to create memories and make Christmas Card photos be part of the tradition, but there is a mental health side that needs to be taken into account.

Besides, I’m pretty sure that there are plenty of photos of your neurodivergent child throughout the course of the year you could use for the card instead of posing for the camera. It’s a fair compromise to both you and that of your neurodivergent child.

…

In conclusion, this is just another reminder that Mental Health needs to be taken into consideration as we enter the holiday season and trust me, there will be more of these blogs to come throughout the months of November and December.

…

Catch you all later!!