When I was pregnant with my first child, an elderly woman walked up to me and said, “You look radiant, dear! I wish you all the luck in the world.” It was the only time in my life when I actually felt beautiful. I felt good about myself. I felt that for once in my life I was doing something special, worthwhile. I’m bringing new life into the world. Soon I’d have a child that I would love unconditionally, and she would love me back.

That compliment came back to me when I was carrying my second child, my son. A friend of mine told me that I looked beautiful but I didn’t feel the same about myself as I did the first time around, mostly because the ex and I were having issues and I was very stressed. I remembered the elderly woman who told me I looked radiant 3 years prior. Instantly, I felt better about myself, and my situation. Unfortunately, my little family was minus one (my ex) a few years later.