General Chat

I hope not! I look exactly like my mother did at my age but I haven't inherited her personality thank goodness. I think I probably have my father's sense of humour - but happily not his temper. I think I am like my mother's aunt - at least that's how I would like to be seen by other people - generous and a bit of a nutter.LOL Magsxx

I know we've never met Becx but you don't seem the kind of person who would be like that with their children. From what I can tell from your threads you seem very compassionate and loving. You're mother obviously doesn't realise how lucky she is. Julie xxx

starstruck, 'mould', might be a good word for it - don,t think life can alter your basic 'shape' (for want of a better word), but circumstances can adjust it somewhat. Thanks for your interest. Hope things work out. Pink, If you try very hard, sure it won,t transfer.Louise, Lovely reply - god bless you. happy days

I hope I'm not like my mum. For an adult and a mother she is spiteful, vindicative and selfish. She has had no qualms in manipulating all of her children to the point where we refuse to speak to each other. Unfortunately I worry that her behaviour may affect me and that in turn I may hurt my children...

Like Len, I have a Christian missionary in the family (mum's elder brother who went to Australia at 19 and never returned) and my sister now does missionary work in Bulgaria on a part time basis. Sadly my own beliefs are a bit sketchy... My Mum and I fought, from the word 'go', and I suspect (now that I am older and wiser) that we were too much alike! I worshipped my Dad but am not blind to his faults. Both of them died some years ago... Our son is showing a lot of his father's traits but, hopefully, has inherited a caring and compassionate side to him, from my family. LIFE however also moulds us, don't you think?

Thank you for the replies. Some sad; happy; amusing' matter of fact. Some replies with a combination. If your parents are still with you, for heaven,s sake, say something nice to them. Len - just caught your reply - I,m sure you have. good show. happy days

No. Harry I'm still alive. My grandad was a Christian missionary. My dad was headmaster of a church school. I certainly inherit none of their belief systems but would love to think I have something from them in me. len

I wish I were, Harry, couldn't get better. RIP Mum and Dad. :-) Joy

Harry, I believe a lot of traits including humour are present in our genes (not Levi's) !!! I was adopted as a baby. I grew up with a sense of humour that just didn't fit in with the family. Yeah sure my adoptive Dad had a lot of wit but what I have is a totally warped sense of humour. Mix that with a love of tormenting your relatives and you're about half way there. I'm also very opinionated much to the annoyance of the family I grew up with. I found my birth families fairly recently and suddenly something clicked! My tormenting ways is curtousy of my Mother, who loved nothing better than winding up her older sister. I have continued this trait without even realising it! My other side of humour comes from my Dad along with always being right and having to have the last word. Never admitting I'm wrong (ask my husband!!). Being so sporty and opinionated comes from Dad's Dad. It's a bizzarre thing to see how much you inherit from your parents.

I think we can all learn from our parents. Either they did it right or they didn't. For those that had bad parents, you have obviously learned from them how not to do it, good prevails. I no this doesn't always work but it strengthens some and weakens others...that's life, that's in their nature. Some really bad people had wonderful parents and vice versa. So who can say if we inherit these traits from our parents. Jacquie

I think I am more like my Dad really he had a good sense of humour often sarcastic but had a sensitive side to him. My Mum doesnt have much sense of humour really not knowingly she can be funny sometimes without knowing it.My Mum can often be hard and cold! I am not like that at all. Dave

Harry I must confess to thinking no I'm alive so I must have inherited bad sense of humour from someone, probably my dad. Other than that no, I haven't left my kids and I don't drink and beat up my partner. I do however have odd ears like my dad and large threepennies like my mum!!! LOL Sarcarsm just comes from within I think !!!! Julie xxx PS Please don't take offense anyone.

It is believed that over 95% of our character traits are derived from genetics... however.. I did a research paper on this last year, because, after finding my birth mother (i am adopted) i found that although i had inherited quite alot of my traits, also a fair majority had been 'adopted' from my adopted family. Things like the way i brush my hair to how i percieve the world is inherited, but certain sayings i use and political beliefs and the basis of child rearing stems from my adopted family's inherited traits. Basically although we do carry a huge amount of inherited genetic traits we do also mould our character behaviour on what we learn through growth. A child who is born and raised by its natural parents will obviously be more like their parents in behaviour because they not only have the inherited genetics but also they copy certain behaviour patterns from their parents. therefore people believe that all character traits are inherited. But in the case of adopted children it is found they only have about half the amount of 'inherited' traits of their birth parents and the rest copied from their adopted parents. This means that the assumption by scientists that over 95% of our character traits are genetic copies may not be the case.

I like to think I have a little of both of mine in me. My father was a very shy quiet man but he had an exceptional mind. He missed out on an extended education but if he could have gone on Millionaire he would have won...no question. General knowledge was his!! My Mum was hard working and determined and together they made the best parents but a hard act to follow. I miss them both!!!! Jacquie PS. I got my short sightedness from my Mum, thanks Mum!!! and my freckles!!!!!

Thank you girls. As an afterthought. perhaps like say, ginger hair, can traits miss a generation or so? Keep thinking. happy days

Well, that's not a bad combination, Harry. Your father's wit and your mother's sernsitivity! I like to think I have my mother's grit and tenacity and my father's compassion and humour. Of course, others would say differently! My brothers say I am more like my Grandma, and she was totally eccentric and a spendthrift. But as long as I can blame someone else I dont mind who I am like. Good thread. BC

This must have been done before and is a deep topic. Possibly the reason I am posting is that I am half apologising for my sense of humour. Just occasionally it can miss the mark. Not my fault you understand, blame my dad. He had a wicked wit anywhere -at funerals; in church and the like. My mother left me with a sensitive streak.,.. DON,T pass comment on my character - what I am trying to say is that maybe we can,t really be blamed for what we are; genius or criminal. Is that correct, or can we fight our way out of perceived imperfections? How do YOU fare in the inheritance game? happy days