Everywhere I went in Myanmar, the people had their kids with them. Moms, dads, grandparents, they all had a child or three within arm's reach, and if that child was old enough, he was working or otherwise participating in the family's economic activities. It was especially great to see fathers taking care of their children in much the same way as the women did, while in many other countries, the father's relationship with his children is much more formal, and the childrearing labor is assigned mostly to the mother.
Most people were really happy to take photos for me, and sometimes even offered to let me hold their children, which usually resulted in a screaming baby and chuckling locals. After all, who wants to be held by a freaky , smelly white dude wearing spandex pants? At any rate, strong family ties seem to be alive and well in Myanmar.
 Guesthouse owner in Kawakreik |  Countryside mother (she's 27 years old!) |  Countryside grandmother |
 Older sister and baby on bike |  Mother and baby at a full moon festival, Pye |  Parents and their children at a temple |
 Family relaxing in front of their house |  Mother and daughter on bike |  Father, son, cousin at their roadside shop |
 Mother and baby closing down food stall |  Older and younger sisters |  Family at their house  Family at home, drying corn in the yard |
Most people were really happy to take photos for me, and sometimes even offered to let me hold their children, which usually resulted in a screaming baby and chuckling locals. After all, who wants to be held by a freaky , smelly white dude wearing spandex pants? At any rate, strong family ties seem to be alive and well in Myanmar.
