Blog #6...

I learned a lot from the interview I had with my grandmother. I obviously have heard many stories of her life but when I actually sat down with her and my mother and heard the details, my perspective changed a lot. I gained a new outlook through this interview. I have always known that her life was difficult, but having her explain to me what she was going through at my age was so shocking. I am currently focusing on school and my plans to further my education. When I am not doing homework, I have a lot of free time to do things I enjoy or spend time with my family. I easily can take a trip to town whenever I like and road trips with my friends aren't out of the ordinary. I don't have a boyfriend, nor do I even want one. When my grandmother was my age she was focusing on working hard in order to please the rich family she was hired by. Her highest form of education was 8th grade, but her most valued lessons were learned at home on the farm. She rarely had enough time to spend with her family, and when she did, it was very cerished. A trip into town was a very special occasion and she never went on a vacation until well into her 40s. When my grandmother was my age, she was married and pregnant, I truly cannot imagine. Quite frankly, I would of hated to live in that era. I value my education and I love to learn. I love the oppertunities I hold and I love that my family has been fortunate enough to travel with me to see the world. I love having the freedom of taking a drive whenever I like, or going to the store to buy something special for myself. I give anybody that has grown up in the early 1900s much credit, because it has made them amazingly strong men and women.

I truly believe that one's adolecence is the worst years of their life, and I am no exception. These are the years that will make or break a person. These are the years a child becomes and adult and discovers themselves, and what they want to do with the rest of their life. Although my teenage years have been my most difficult thus far, they have taught me lessons that I will use throughout my life. My adolecense has developed me into the person I will most likely be for the rest of my life.

The thing I found most fascinating about chapter 4 was identical twins. When I read about Jim Lewis and Jim Springer, I was in complete shock. I know twins' personality traits are often similar, but I cannot believe that these two men, which have been seperated for nearly 40 years and grew up with different parents, in different environments, can still be so similar!

One thing I learned in chapter 5 was that parenting styles are classified, and how dramatically they affect the child's personality. Obviously, children who are always spoiled are going to expect to get what they want, that part definately didn't suprise me. I learned that parents can be classified as Authoritarian, Permissive, Authoritative, and Neglective. Authoritarian parents create rules and demand obedience. Permissive parents are those parents who "spoil" their children or give them what they want and give in to the child's desires. Authoritative parents make and enforce rules, but for reasons, and explains their intentions to the child. Neglective parents give their children what they need to survive, but often no love or support. I have discovered in the past few years that one of my close friends I have had throughout my life was a victim of neglect as a child. When my parents told me this, everything I know about her started to make sense, and I can truly say that how she was treated as a child has extremely affected her young adulthood and the person she has become.