I am pretty, and that causes problems, too.

Not the same types of problems, but problems just the same.

Ever since I “blossomed” in eighth grade, I learned just how powerful being pretty was, and I started relying way too much on my prettiness to get me by … even though I was also smart and funny and good at stuff. I needed to hear, all the time and from many inappropriate people, just how pretty I was. This got me into lots of trouble. Big trouble.

Now I’m old and I’ve had a baby, but still, I feel that prettiness pressure. I wish I could get to the point of not caring, but after 20 years of having my self-worth wrapped up in prettiness, it’s taking some doing.