Thing’s Taken from Childhood

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As I’ve gotten wiser older, I’ve really come to realize the impact that our childhood has on our adult life. I recognize that childhood is extremely important; and as parents we always talk about how big of an impact it has on how our kids turn out. Lately I’ve done some soul searching of my own, and I’ve picked up on a few things about myself that are a direct result of my childhood.

• I hate English Peas, Pot-Pie of any kind, and Potato Stroganoff Hamburger Helper. Seriously. These are my three all time least favorite foods. Ever. Probably because my mom never fixed any other kind of Hamburger Helper growing up. It was always that same kind. And I grew up in a “if you don’t eat your supper, you’ll go to bed without a snack” kind of home. So, I had to eat the nasty mess. The Pot-Pie distaste is thanks to my dad. And the fact that he made me eat one one night because I initially told him I wanted it, and he fixed it for me against my will. And I got sick. Never again. The English Peas? Those were my sister’s favorite. I preferred Green Beans. But we rarely ate those, because baby sister didn’t like them.
• I am deathly afraid of clowns. Remember Stephen Kings It? My daddy let me sit up one night when I was about five or six and watch it with him. I don’t think he realized I was actually watching it. Or maybe he thought I fell asleep or would close my eyes when it got scary. I didn’t. And it gave me nightmares. I’m still a little squeamish around the red-haired, nose honking,  flat footed guys at the circus (which is 99% of the reason why we don’t go to the circus).
• I am terrible when it comes to going to the dentist and keeping doctors appointments for myself. I remember my mom always seemed to cancel her doctor’s appointments (no matter what they were for) the day of, at the very last minute. While I kept every single OB appointment when I was pregnant, this is something I still struggle with. I know how important maintaining my own health is, and I want to set a good example for my kiddo. But as for the dentist? Let’s just say that the appointment I had to make before we moved to Alaska was the first one I’d had since I was in high school. And I graduated in 2005. You do the math. And I don’t feel the least bit guilty about it.
• I hate doing laundry. Hate it. With the passion of 1,000 burning suns, hate it. Why? Because that was always the chore I got stuck doing growing up. Out of everything that I could somewhat tolerate (because who really enjoys cleaning?) laundry is what I got stuck doing. It drives my husband crazy. Because I tend to leave clothes in the dryer for DAYS unless something else is pressing to be washed and dried. And even then, the wet clothes, tend to get thrown on top of the dry clean clothes and everything just gets another good spin in the dryer. And the cycle continues until A) I get to a load of towels or something that can’t be thrown in with the regular clothes. Because picking lint balls off the husband’s static-happy work uniform is zero fun; or B) the dryer gets so full that you can’t cram anything else in it. Only then am I forced to put the crap in a basket. And how long it sits there is another story. See those clothes in the picture? All of those are clean. And they sat there like that for three days.
• I can’t stand to have a dirty kitchen or nasty floors. It’s a habit I got from my mom. A sink full of dirty dishes when company comes over? NEVER happens in my house unless I’m dead or dying. Nothing says filth to me more a kitchen sink piled high with food encrusted plates, bowls, and silverware. (Sorry if any of you don’t have my dirty-dish phobia! Not rudeness intended!) And I like to walk around barefooted—though I don’t do it often here because it’s so cold—so when I don’t have my socks on, I can feel dirt, crumbs and grime under my toes. And that’s just nasty. Totally grosses me out. That’s why I mop at least once a week and vacuum my floors three, sometimes four, times a day. I can’t help it.

I hope you guys don’t totally think I’m a weirdo now. I could have drug this list on a little bit longer, but I figure after telling you that I don’t go to the dentist and that I don’t always fold our clothes, you might start to think I’m a bit unruly and unkempt. So I better stop it right there. I’m pretty sure my son will grow up to hate dusting the furniture. Because next to laundry, it’s my least favorite chore. One that I fully intend to deem his responsibility when he gets a wee-bit older.

What quirks, mindsets and habits are you building in your own children?
What areas of your adult life have been impacted by your childhood?

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