Why Do Expecting Parents Want a Mini-Me?

When I worked for one of the top global agencies years ago, my team and I concentrated on a large campaign for a major personal care brand, with which almost everyone is familiar.  The campaign spotlighted the beauty of real women of all sizes and takes the audience's presumably low self-confidence for a positive spin.  Since it was launched, the brand has received a great deal of buzz and viral attention.


Every day, I come across another article or blog post about how the country's expanding waistlines, seemingly flawless celebrities. etc. are decreasing self-confidence and increasing depression.  It explains the success of diet plans and plastic surgeons.  Most people are their own worst critic.

However, if you look into the hopes of expecting parents, one of the first things you'll uncover is their desire for the child to be just like they are.  If so many people are self critics, why?  You hear fathers who want their sons to look like they do, play football like they do, what have you.  Mothers are the same way with daughters.

Deep down, are most people egomaniacs?  Why do they want someone to be just like they are, if they claim to be so flawed?

When I was pregnant with my daughter, I was totally baffled by other expecting parents' desire for a clone.  I didn't want my child to be anything like me.  It isn't because I dislike myself, but I think I'm far from perfect and certainly not worthy of duplication.  When others asked why, I argued, "One of me on this planet is more than enough!"

I didn't want to have a daughter with my hair, looks and personality.  In fact, I wanted a boy.  Badly! 

I was a high risk patient who received numerous ultrasounds.  During a 13-week ultrasound, a seasoned technician asked if I was interested in her guess on the sex of the baby.  She could tell by looking at the pelvic area that the baby is a girl.  I hoped she was wrong but knew deep down that she knew what she was doing.  By the time the sex could be more accurately identified, it was revealed again that it's a girl.  My reaction:  Oh, shit!

Today, my daughter is four.  To my husband, she is, without a doubt, a mini version of me.  She has the same expressions, personality, hair color (down to the highlights), etc. as I.  In spite of all of this, I love her to the moon and back.  It may come back to bite me, when she becomes the teenager that I was, but it doesn't even occur to me, most of the time, how alike we are today.  To me, she has her own personality, and I relish in all of our little moments.

I am a confident individual, but I guess I don't love myself enough to want a carbon copy.  It's still a mystery to me why others do.  All I can say I guess is, good for you?