"Mum, will you play with me?" When you don't want to and the guilt sets in

An honest, relatable read for mums who feel guilty for not always wanting to play and why relaxed outdoor family photo sessions can help you reconnect.

"Mum, will you play with me?"

Sometimes you just don't want to! Your heart says yes, but everything else is screaming no!

Not because you don't care but because

• your tired

• you've already played it three times

• the rules don't make sense

• your being told off for doing it wrong

• you've got other things to do

• and if we are being really honest, the game is boring and you can't find the energy to pretend otherwise!

Sometimes its not even the game. Its the though of what comes after. The mess, the toys everywhere and the inevitable moment where you're the one tidying it all up, because lets face it, they're not going to.

So you say "in a minute" or "not right now".

Then comes the guilt.

The Bit Nobody Really Talks About

You love your children more than anything , but sometimes motherhood is repetitive, exhausting and a little bit boring! It's hard to find enjoyment in

• repeating the same game over and over

• being the referee between siblings

• tidying up something you didn't even want to start

• faking enthusiasm.

Sometimes you just need a bit of time to yourself. A quiet moment when your not needed. Space to breathe. And yet even knowing that, you still feel like a bad mum for not wanting to play.

This doesn't make you a bad mum, it makes you human! Needing space does not take away from how much you love your children.

What If Connection Didn't Have To Feel So Hard?

Because the truth is, the moments that matter most usually aren't the ones where you're forcing yourself to join in something that doesn't feel fun. They're the ones where connection happens naturally

• the way your child leans into you without thinking

• the way they reach for your hand

• the little glances

• the cuddles

• the laughter

• being together without pressure

This Is Why Outdoor Family Photo Sessions Can Help

One of the biggest things i hear from mums after a session is:

"That actually felt really easy...and really lovely."

Because when you book a family photo session, something shifts. You've carved out time, intentionally to just be together.

• your not juggling a to do list

• your not half thinking about everything else you need to get done

• your not being asked to play the same game over and over again.

Instead you're

• walking together in fresh air

• holding hands

• playing simple, natural games that don't feel repetitive or forced

• laughing (properly laughing!)

• fully in the moment

and the best part is, it doesn't feel like effort in the same way.

It's Connection Without The Pressure

During a session I gently guide things so it never feels awkward, but also ever feels staged.

The games are simple, the moments are natural and somehow everyone gets involved. Even the mums who don't really enjoying playing end up right in the middle of it all, smiling, laughing and connecting. Not because they forced it but because they were given the space to just be. No pressure, no performing, just enjoying natural moments with their family.

Thats What You Will Remember

Not how many times you said no and not the games you didnt play, but how it felt when you were all together

• connected

• relaxed

• present

That's what these sessions are really about.

A Different Kind Of Yes

So next time you don't feel like playing...thats OK!

You don't have to say yes to every single game they want you to play.

But maybe this is your reminder to say yes to something different.

A moment where

• you're not pulled in a hundred directions

• you're not forcing enthusiasm

• you're not feeling guilty

Just quality time together as a family with real connection and genuine happiness.

Lets Capture That

If you've been thinking about booking a family photo session, this is your sign.

Not because everything is perfect but because it's real and it matters.

Sometimes having that time intentionally set aside (with no tidying up to have to do asfterwards) makes all the difference.

Rachel x

Rachel Hilton Photography

Family & Newborn photographer in Kent