While my children were growing up, we chose to homeschool them from kindergarten through 12th grade. It was a big decision and one we didn’t take lightly. Now, with all three of them grown and with master’s degrees in some educational field, I giggle at the irony. Having them all work in education also means they have the summer off, and we get to hang out together. Like many parents, I look back on my children’s childhood with fond memories. Some of my favorite memories are when we would adventure our magical city of Los Angeles and go on field trips. This summer, I asked the kids if they would want to recreate some of our favorite field trips. I was so delighted when all three loved the idea.

Our first summer expedition led us to the J. Paul Getty Museum. I was excited to attend their summer exhibition, “Queer Lens: A History of Photography.” If you are in the LA area, I recommend you visit. It was a beautiful and educational exhibit.

Since we were revisiting their childhood, I thought it would be a fun twist to give them some ‘homework.’ The task was to capture three photos: one of lines, one of shadows, and one of something they cherished. The museum became our playground as we joyfully hunted for our images.

After they sent me their images, I printed them out on my Instax Square Link Printer. This nifty device allows you to print photos directly from your smartphone, and the quality is fantastic. I love that I have the memory of the day through our printed homework.

Do you have an Instax printer? How do you like to use yours? Have you ever tried a similar ‘homework’ assignment with your family? I’d love to hear about your experiences!

~Staci Lee