Husband won't participate in maternity photoshoot
There are much much bigger things to be sad about but I am sad about this.
I always thought, I was SURE, that I never wanted to have a kid. Biggest surprise of my life when after nearly 17 years together we both changed our minds. It's been such a beautiful and special time (34 weeks tomorrow). Of course I want some pictures to look back on!
He avoids having his picture taken like the plague (anxiety and deep loathing of anything related to social media) but I did talk him into a professional photoshoot when we eloped and I swear I look at those beautiful pictures nearly every day and it's been 7 years. So I took a chance and booked a maternity photoshoot months ago and hoped he would wrap his head around it by August 23rd as something important for me and a once in a lifetime thing.
This morning he told me it makes him sick to his stomach to think about and he won't do it. "The most paralyzing, anxiety inducing thing I can think of". He also is pissed about the $550 cost and said he'd rather I cancel and lose the $275 deposit than pay more.
We aren't rich but we have money. We usually take an entire week off for our anniversary (unpaid for me) and spend $400 renting a jet ski for a day but we didn't this year so it's not like we can't/ don't occasionally drop a sum like this on something we want.
I literally don't post on social media ever. These pictures would be for us, when we're 90 and want to remember, for our daughter to get a glimpse of how full of love we were when she was almost here. (And yeah, I really like how I look pregnant and candids from friends just don't do me justice!)
I feel defeated and honestly angry. I'm empathetic to the anxiety and at the same time wish he would push through it this one time. It's just an hour in the park getting our picture taken.
Have to share with strangers since talking to friends or family would be poor Team Married behavior.