Rachael Kilgour - Family Secrets

5. Family Secrets
I remember the moment when I first looked in the mirror and was disappointed in what I saw. Somewhere in that transition from childhood into early adolescence we start to identify the ways in which we do not meet society’s ideals, and spend the rest of our lives trying to return to the confident and imaginative selves we were when we were small. In my father’s absence, I was grateful to find him still with me in big ways and all of the little weird ones as well. I loved him regardless of his imperfections and I hope I can learn to love myself like that too.