The Mom's Experience: Joys and Pains of Pregnancy and Parenting

I grew in a household where love was a strange feeling, I was raised by people who were never in love with themselves, marriage and even their children.  I wasn't their biological child and it wasn't hidden from me, I was constantly reminded of this fact and was told to be grateful they took me in after my mom's death.  I never really knew what love was, until one of my cousins from a different aunt pointed it out to me. She and her siblings were raised in love and you could see how different they were from us, her expressions were confident, she was so free to speak, she was so open and hardly pick offence. I wanted to be around her because I get to smile more and not walk on eggshells. As a mother now,my child hood experiences has taught me the importance of love in an household/family.  Love shapes children in so many positive ways.  1. Unconditional love and affection create a sense of security, trust, and belonging, allowing your child to develop healthy self-es...