The Can't Fake a Smile To Save Your Life Gene

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young boy sitting the couch wearing his new glasses

All we needed was one picture of Mr K to put on Facebook for his grandparents, showing them his adorable new glasses.

In the process, I realized that my son suffers from the same affliction I do. Apparently I am a carrier of the Can’t-Fake-a-Smile-To-Save-Your-Life Gene. You know, that obviously recessive gene that has you unable to produce a smile that passes for real when you don’t really like having your picture taken.

I knew that I had passed on the gene as soon as I saw this picture.

young boy sitting the couch wearing his new glasses snarls at the camera

Does he remind you of anyone?

That’s right. My poor boy. When faced with a camera and someone asking you to smile, he immediately makes a face, or like his mom, snarls at the camera.

It’s not all his fault, really. It doesn’t help when you have a mom who forgets how to work her camera and takes a picture using flash.

using a camera with flash in taking the photo of young boy

Or when you have that other gene, I-Can’t-Stop-Talking-When-People-Take-A-Picture.

This his gets from his mother as well. Oh, the pictures I have where I look ridiculous because I simply cannot shut up for two seconds, even when I know someone is taking my picture.

close up of a boy wearing red shirt and his glasses, sitting on the couch

This, oh this I completely am familiar with.

The” I Give Up” face.

I do this all the time to Mike when he’s taking my picture.

Don’t like my smiles? Then I won’t. So there. How do you like them apples?

close up of a boy wearing red shirt and his glasses

And then, just like his Mom, after about 100 pictures and eye-rolling galore from the person behind the camera, eventually a real smile comes out. One where you can see the smile in the eyes as well and not just the mouth.