Oops, They Did It Again: Adorable Kid Fails That'll Melt Your Heart

3. Photograph – 13

Quite enough baby imprints for memory. This picture probably shows an unusually large collection of infant footprints, much beyond the usual souvenir or two parents might save. The picture might show a cheeky child stepping into paint or ink and then treating the whole house as their canvas, leaving a trail of small footprints on flooring, walls, and maybe even furniture. The sheer volume of footprints points to a period of parental distraction that produced this lovely but messy art project. The photographer has caught this scene in all its messy glory, maybe including the guilty party—a paint-covered baby—smiling broadly at their accomplishment. This picture reminds me humorously of the erratic nature of raising children and the need of finding humor in the turmoil. This kind of memory might have been tense at the time but, over time it becomes a treasured and humorous narrative. Parents who have gone through similar events of toddler-induced anarchy will probably find resonance in the picture, which also acts as a humorous caution to newlyweds about the pleasures and difficulties that lie ahead.