What habits have you inherited? I think back on my childhood and remember many things I learned from my step-mother. She made quilts from clothes we outgrew. Her mom did the same thing. I never made a quilt. But I learned to cherish old stuff. I enjoy old things people made and treasure things that folks cast off and throw away. Mom had tons of this stuff. Sometimes it is called junk. But I especially love old wooden dough-bowls, rolling pins and antique crocks. I like old linens and have several pieces of crochet work framed and hanging on my bedroom wall. Okay. I confess. I am a packrat. I inherited it from my step-mother. But that is one trait in me I did not pass on to my daughter.
When my daughter first got married, I sat down and wrote out a bunch of recipes so she would know how to make my spaghetti sauce, beef stew, stuffed porkchops and various other dishes. Through the years, when my daughter cooked, she'd call and ask how long to cook something, or if a certain dish could be frozen, etcetera. My daughter rarely calls me anymore about cooking. She's learned how, and is one of the best cooks I know. Now she makes her sauce, stew, and chops.
As her mother, I often wonder how many of my habits I've passed on to her. Some areas that I consider weaknesses in myself, I've watched her develop into strengths. She is an organizer, administrator, take charge kinda person. I'm a spur of the moment, creative, let things flow kind of person. She confronts; I encourage. She expects; I accept. Is this a direct result of her methodical, determined quest to be different from me, or do we simply have gifts that lead us to react differently in the same set of circumstances? How much is innate and how much is learned behavior? I'd like to think I've passed along some good traits. But to be honest, I think God had more to do with her development into the person she is today, than me. And I think that is a good thing.
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