MrsTofu's Journal, 20 March 2014

Isn't it amazing how two children can be SO different? My sons have the same mom and dad, but (gosh) their personalities could not be more different -- almost from the womb!! Truly amazing to watch them grow... 

Tis amazing!! Even more so sometimes. My middle daughter has one daughter and triplet boys ( 2 are identical) who were born 13 months later. The boys have been fascinating to know as they have gotten older now 12 years. They have each had very different personalities since they were tiny. Sure there are things they do the same and there is the we connection instead of I.  

LOL. My sis and I are like that too: she's the athletic, artistically gifted fashionista and I'm the nerdy tomboy. We've gotten along mostly, and have been relatively close forever. Besides the fact that she's tough as nails/ tenacious (seriously, her picture would fit under the dictionary entries for "resilient" and "driven"), because she's my only biological sister (I have some other sisters now, but the three of them are all SIL), I am glad I have a good relationship with her. :) Hopefully the same is true for your boys LuC2! 

Wholefood, I think the twin/multiple aspect makes things more interesting also for the fact that it makes innate vs environmental differences more apparent. Twin studies are fascinating to me because of the common stark contrast in individuals who share so much identical DNA. 

I did a thesis on nature/nurture in college. There is a very fine line of demarcation between the affect of genetics and environmental factors. It seems simply inexplicable. So, we all have to work with the best parts of what we've been given and hope the environments we've been dropped in (or choose to assimilate into) nurture us to develop the best 'we' that we can be. I simply LOVE the subject -- plus, I like things that cannot be explained almost as much as I like those that can! :o) I truly feel like I'm warring against genetics in health, wellness and weight. I believe I am predisposed to many things but there are also many things I can do to stave off diabetes, achy joints and obesity. Know what I mean? 

It's really fascinating. My triplets look much alike, all three. You could tell the boys apart just by their personalities even when they first came home from the hospital. All you had to do was pay attention. They even walk and run differently. I also am warring against genetics especially osteoporosis from my mother. So far haven't picked up my dad's or grandparents' problems, both my grandmother's died young.  

LuC2, I love the way you said that, "I like things that cannot be explained almost as much as I like those that can!" That's brilliant! I totally get that and feel the same way. Wholefood, that's really cool to notice that. I believe in intelligent design and things like that suggest to me design- what a great identification strategy, and it's not like it's being imposed on the boys per se since THEY demonstrated the differences before they were aware of it or the expectations other people may have had for them. I am sorry that you have some family history of early death. I hope that trend doesn't continue to run in your family. I am not very clear on my genetic background other than there seems to be a family history of mental illness and/ or neurological issues. (There's Autism spectrum on both sides of my family tree.) One similar topic that fascinates me is the role of awareness and discipline. For example, the stories shown in movies like "Gattica", "Men of Honor" or "A Beautiful Mind". Granted the first is fiction and the other two are "based on true events", but to see people succeed where it defies odds or fail when they seem to have everything going for them, to see people overcome handicaps by sheer force of will--that amazes and fascinates me. :) 

My twin sisters are so different sometimes I wonder how can they have the same face ! 

Too funny, namramn1! I grew up with two sets of twins in my neighborhood.I guess being with them all the time (from Kindergarten to like 3rd grade) I REALLY got to know them. They were SO incredibly different. People used to wonder how I could tell them apart and I used to wonder how folks could ever get them confused!! 

With my triplet grandsons their big sis could always tell them apart. Mom color coded them when they were little. She put little ankle brackets on them and primarily dressed them in their color. colton was red, Payton blue and nick green or yellow. It was easier when you needed a quick identifier.