"For real"

I have heard family members on multiple occasions tell my daughter to "smile for real." 

She usually pauses, looks quizzically at the person and then smiles "for real." It usually looks something like......

Then the family member kind of chuckles and usually asks again. And again. And again. Sometimes they try to mask their disappointment at not getting a "beautiful" picture of Miriam. And sometimes they roll their eyes and look at me as if I might be able to help them get my sweet daughter to pose.

But, you know what?

I don't care.

I like her "for real" smile.

I like her pretty smile.

I like her silly smile.

I like her cheesy smile.

I like her smile.

I am all too aware that there are only a certain number of these "for real" smiles.

They are numbered and far too few.

Pretty soon they will be replaced by scores of those posed pictures everyone so desperately wanted.

And all I'll want is a picture of her doing this.......

.........in her prom dress.