Kids do not always turn out like their parents

[ShinyHappyLucy]

I've said for years I would never be like my mother. Now I see parts of her I don't like coming out in me, and I have to make a point to try and change it. My sisters all say the same thing.

I have a daughter whose personality is virtually identical to mine. It bothers me sometimes because I know someday she'll see it and be trying her best to not be like me in some ways. I often wish my personality didn't pass so strongly to her so I didn't have to worry about that happening.

Lucy

[Huckleberry3911948]

my parents did not go as far as me. they did not work on their stuff although they had a lot of talent and smarts. i worked on my stuff. it has made the difference.
they were not hard on themselves. they were hard on me. i was hard on me.
i have had to choke back on that tendency the last few years, otherwise you end up bitter cynical and ruthless.

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

I am the youngest of three children in my adopted family and the oldest of three children in my biological family. I think because of the fact that I didn't share genetics with the people who raised me, that I was able to break away from things that I felt were wrong.

I remember telling myself, it was like a mantra, "I do not share blood with these people, I don't have to be like them."

I would almost chant this to myself when things went hellishly wrong during family gatherings.

[jennaflorrie]

All families have skeletons in the cupboard, no family is perfect. Sounds like you had a really rough time of it growing up with such a grouchy man as a dad. But you have born no grudges towards him and seem to have such wisdom about the whole situation. I admire your strength of character.