[blessedbybug]

It really is hard to know. I think the answer is 'yes' meaning I believe that kids get how they act and who they are from both nurture and nature. And truth be told, I still have a really hard time taking credit for anything my children do yet. Mostly because so many of the things they do remind me of their other moms and siblings. When someone says "your dd is beautiful" I instantly agree, but not because it has anything to do with me...but because her other mom is beautiful. That's just one example. I'm probably a little hard on myself for being a 'not so great' parent when there are temper tantrums or we're all in meltdown mode. I can say I've never once thought their birth family members were to blame at all. My kids are who they are. It's my job to take that and help them grow up to be who they are becoming.

Honestly, I've discussed some of these things with my kids' other moms, and we've had a good laugh, because in many ways, they picked someone (me) personality wise who is very close to how they are. We are all a little bit fiery, and a tad emotional (And I use 'little bit' and 'tad' sarcastically). DS's other mom joked that she may have given him his temper (because she has one too, and so does the son she is parenting!) but I have all that it takes to deal with it (meaning a strong will with hopefully a whole lot of grace mixed in). I sure hope so.

And seeing DS with his full bio brother, they are so much alike in almost every way they act. And this visit was the first time they met. There is no mistaking that he comes by his temperament by nature. OTOH, I can see the effects on our different parenting styles. One's not better than the other, just different and our children have responded to the way we parent in each of our homes.