found poems
i) Mom + Dad Hug
Have the couple half hug

with their arms crossing in the front.
Tell Mom to slightly lean

her head into Dad.


ii) Family of 5 Standing
Have Mom and Dad stand together

and ask Dad to put his hands in his pockets.
Tell Mom to turn toward Dad

and ‘hug’ his arm.
Ask older, taller children to stand

beside Mom and Dad
with one shoulder tucked

behind whichever parent is beside them.
Then bring in any younger children

and pose them in front.


iii) Mom + Dad Arm Hug
Have Dad stand first with his

hands in his pockets (thumbs out).
Then place Mom beside him

and ask her to hug his arm.
If they seem uncomfortable,

ask them to make silly faces
at each other

to loosen them up.


iv) Family of 5 Sitting
Modified cheerleader pose for Mom.

Same pose for Dad, but with his knee up
and his arm resting on that knee.

Bring in the older children
on the outside of Mom and Dad.

Have them sit modified cheerleader
or criss-crossed. To show connection,

tell them to link arms
with the parent beside them.

Bring in the youngest child last.
If they are young enough,

have them sit on Mom or Dad’s laps.
Try to use them to fill any empty spaces

between older family members.


v) Family of 4 Sitting
Place Mom and Dad first

in the standard Mom and Dad sitting pose.
Then bring in the children.

Have the older child sit beside Dad
in a modified cheerleader pose

and lean into him,
resting his arm on his raised knee.

Place the younger child either in Mom’s lap
or beside her in the same position

as his brother, but mirrored.


vi) Stop and Kiss
While walking away,

have Mom and Dad stop
and kiss over the child

between them.