Myrtle Beach Real Estate by Mirela

I would love to hear from you on this topic! 

Mirela, my only theory on this is every next generation goes the opposite way, strict parents  - then liberal parenting skills, etc. I don't think you did anything wrong. It just seems the world works that way often.

It is just how things happen. My in laws are as right wing and conservative as they come. My husband, not so much. He considers himself a recovering Catholic and fully recovered Republican. His parents don't know what they did 'wrong' 4 of their 6 children went the other way from their beleifs. So go figure?! Just be happy that your children are healthy and well adjusted and that you are still in their life. Good luck and God Bless.

Betina

My kids followed right in line, but I know this is not the norm.  I'm nothing like my parents.  Interesting, I guess as humans we can follow an example or go down our own path.  As parents, we can only launch kids and not steer them.

Gary:  I wasn't implying that I did anything wrong.  I am very happy with the way my kids have turned out.  I certainly think they are having a much smoother journey in life than I have...  I am just curious about this topic.  How is it possible to be so different, indeed diametrically opposed?  I raised them, yet I did not infuse them with any of my dogma...

My mother was a non-conformist as you..maybe not quite so liberal. I was liberal in my youth but then, like your kids, found reasons for being that were not of my own making. I've come to understand in traveling the world, exploring many religions and cultures, that it's who God means for us to be that we become. A phrase I recently heard was powdered butt syndrome, your kids can never tell you what might be best for you because you once powdered their butts, therefore you know better. I think parents sometimes might be better off to learn from their kids instead of the opposite way around.

Good post!

My eldest daughter is as conservative as they come....I would not  consider myself to be conservative in the least! But, we would both fight for an underdog that was getting a bad break. My second daughter is also more conservative than I am...but we both did a habitat house  together this summer. I am a bit of a feminist (a big bit) and was surprised when my eldest wanted to go to an extremely traditional, all girl,prep school that graduated the students in white wedding dresses...ugh! That being said I raised them to have their own mind...and I'm proud they do.Mirela you obviously did what a mother should do...allow your children to become who they are...not reflections of you! KUDOS girl...oh, and by the way I totally believe God has a sense of humor

Holly:  if my kids will be as wise as you, then things are as they should be...

I love this:  "your kids can never tell you what might be best for you because you once powdered their butts, therefore you know better".

...and this: 

"I think parents sometimes might be better off to learn from their kids instead of the opposite way around".

Holly, you can comment on my blogs, ANYTIME!  PLEASE DO!

Cait:  I was feeling a lump in my throat as I was reading your comments.  I also felt some tears well up in my eyes.  Yes, I agree!  I did my job well, and I'm not shy about it!  Thank you for "getting it"!

Schrader, Inc:  Indeed, Launch them, not Steer them!  Great notion!  Thank you!

Betina:  That is hilarious: 

He considers himself a recovering Catholic and fully recovered Republican.

Thank you for putting a smile on my face!

Our children are growing up in a totally different world.  I wish I had a nintendo 360, my attitude would be different too.

The one thing I am proudest of with my 2 sons is the fact that they are different:  Different from each other and different from me.   I always preached "go with your heart" and they both listened.  One is a musician (not a starving musican anymore, thank goodness) one served the US Army and is now home and going to be a truck driver.  Both unique, both individuals and both good young men. 

Mirela, we have no choice in which way the kids will go, we can only give them guidance as they grow up, then it's up to them what they do with it. If we all confirmed to our parents wants and needs, life as we know it probably wouldn't be much different then our great-great grand parents, change isn't always a bad thing. I know my kids have surprised me in their direction (for the better) and for that I'm proud on them.

Great post,

Duane

I guess I am the different one.  I wanted to be like my Dad, and I hope my son wants to be like me.. so far at 14 he still likes me!

just dont get me started on my 16yr old daughter... I doubt we will EVER see Eye to eye.  and I know my dad had the same problem with my oldest sister and it lasted all the way to the end.  I need to fix that some how.

Robert:  Me and daddy were the same way...  but I adored him!

Mirela

Like cait said, you did your job well.  I can recall as a child and young adult, it felt like I had to live my life through the eyes of others.  Parents, aunts, etc,   I always had a different intuition, belief, or questioned rules, why this etc.  Because of this I did the best I could to respect the differences my children had, to encourage them to develop their own thoughts and to follow their hearts.  Bravo to you.  As for God having a sense of humor I truly believe so.  It seems now that I am on my own, my daughters, are like two mother hens, the way they act you would think I am the child.  Secretly, I love it...but not a word to them.

I think you've managed to allow your kids to go where their worthy desires take them. I wouldn't say that's the opposite direction... after all- isn't this what you've always done? :-)

Chuck:  You always know what to say to me!

Paul:  Thank you! 

Daughters like doting on their fathers.    By the way, I think they already know...

Each of my three sons are EXTREMELY different.  Although they're still too young to determine how liberal, conservative, independent or conforming (or non) they are, as long as they all choose paths that keep them HEALTHY and HAPPY, I'll be beside myself with joy.

Antoinette:   I love your name! 

Yes, that's right!  It is so satisfying to watch them mature into the people they are...  It has been such a captivating journey for me...

Three sons...  you sure have your hands full...

My Dad use to sneak on riverboats in Memphis, TN at the age of 12 and 13 to enter dance contests. There was prize money involved and during the depression, $20 was a lot of money. He won every time. I guess they got tired of the same kid winning, so they banned him for being underaged.

I, on the other hand, use to sneak into nightclubs where bands were playing. I had a rock band (since I was 12) but wanted to play guitar with the big boys. I got my chance one night...and will never will forget the feeling.

Why dancing for Dad and music for me?

Well, Hollywood films had a lot of song and dance back in those days. Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Ginger Rogers, etc must have made an impression on him back in the late 30s.

My passion????  Outside of Steve McQueen and 007, the guys who had ALL THE WOMEN chasing them were Rock Stars. That certainly made an impression on me.

Mirela, we are born with certain individual gifts. It boils down to whether we discover them or not, and if we do, do we celebrate them.

Look at those tiny little feet- how precious.  I think a majority of kids want to be different from their parents - I know I did.  But I find that no matter what, I see them in me at times.  My husband did not grow up with his dad around, and yet, he is exactly like him... temperment, expressions, hobbys.  Yes he is his own self but by blood he is his dad.  I think we all are own person, but by nature we are our parents.

Mirella,

I have enjoyed reading your blogs everyday. Have you talked to your soon recently regarding this issue? What do you think your kids would say in response to this topic?