My whole life I’ve been really self conscious about my appearance. I felt too big, odd looking, ugly. Pregnancy didn’t help. I was swollen, uncomfortable, sweaty. I prayed my daughter would get my husband’s looks so she wouldn’t have to deal with the self consciousness I felt in my life. When she was born, she looked like the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. I was too tired to care what I looked like, but I knew it wasn’t good. One hard morning, after a hard night, I was taking a long time brushing my teeth in the bathroom while my husband held the baby. I looked up into the mirror and caught my reflection, and before I could even really think about it, I thought to myself “I have my daughter’s eyes.” She is perfect and beautiful. Those perfect little eyes I’d been staring lovingly into for these first few very hard weeks, are mine, and mine hers. Now I look at myself differently when I look in the mirror, knowing that no matter how low I might feel, I will always have my beautiful daughter’s beautiful eyes.
— Anonymous