The Hidden Cost of Trying to Fit In

When I was seven, I was the little girl wearing dresses and climbing trees. I wanted to be adventurous and cute at the same time (can you blame me?). In middle school, I started secretly raiding my mother’s closet and borrowing her scarves, headbands and purses. I remember getting on the school bus, and as soon as it turned the corner away from home, I’d think, “Coast is clear!” Cue the classic nineties makeup routine (i.e., lots of blue eyeshadow). My Caboodles kit felt like my own