I’m pregnant with my first child and recently found out I’m having a girl. This has caused a lot of painful memories and anxiety to resurface in me and I’ve been struggling with my emotions since finding out.
I was a really shy child growing up with crippling social and general anxiety - to the extent where I found it very difficult to make friends and was very nervous and anxious in social situations (I still dread them). Because of this I was bullied throughout my school years and really struggled. I also had bad teeth, poor eyesight and a lazy eye which further destroyed my confidence, rightly or wrongly, especially around boys. I desperately wanted to fit in with my peers and I just didn’t.
Now I’ve found out I’m having a girl I’m so worried that she will be a “mini me” and will have to go through all the same issues I did when growing up. If she follows in DH’s footsteps she’ll be fine - he’s confident and sociable and had a straightforward, happy childhood with lots of friends.
I imagine it must be even harder being a girl like I was in this day and age, what with social media and all the pressures that must bring.
I just want to raise my daughter to be a strong, confident and happy girl/woman but don’t know how. As I say, if she takes after DH she’ll be fine but obviously that’s by no means a given. And how much of this is nature vs nurture?
Does anyone have any advice?