Who Do You Look Like?

Until I was much older and understood that the comment was not meant to be literal, I was always terribly insulted when anyone would say to me You look just like our father!

My father was bald, slightly overweight, had an arguably large nose, and wore a mustache.

I was hardly complimented.

In fact, I often cried.

It made me wish I was adopted.

And when my three daughters were born not only did none of them look either like myself or my husband, they did not all look like each other.

It was a gift of genetic randomness.

But people would still study their faces and then inquire—I do not understand--Who do your girls look like? Because I do not see a resemblance to anyone.

And I would say They look like themselves.

And my children would smile, as would I.

Because it made each daughter feel special—unique, and unburdened.

And that is the way children should always feel--- like they are their own person--even if they do resemble another family member—and especially if the family member they resemble is of the opposite sex and does not conform to your personal sense of beauty.