All in the Family


What do you think of when I say family?  Is it:  laughter?  dysfunctional?  close knit?  estranged?  blended? When you think of family do you think of your siblings and wonder how they turned out so differently than you?  Or are you all carbons of each other? 

In my family, me and my siblings are a lot alike.  We have the same sense of humor.  And that humor has a tendency to come out more when we are nervous or in an uncomfortable situation.  We like food.  Food is a big part of our lives.  We talk to each other and make each other laugh.  It's good.  And yet we are so different.  Is it our age difference?  Were our influences outside the home different?  And if so, how did our response to them differ and why?

These thoughts came to me over the weekend as my mom and I were discussing the differences between me and my sibs.  We are very different.  But why?  We were raised in the same house, by the same people, and yet we are all so very different.  I look at my own children and wonder how different they will turn out.  They seem pretty similar now.  They play together really well.  They are all very a little high strung.  They are all picky eaters.  They all have selective hearing.  So how will they turn out?  How vastly different will they be?  Or will they be more alike? 

How is it in your family?

Comments

Cheeseboy said…
My siblings are kinda the same as me, but I am by far the most different than any of them. I can be sarcastic, but my siblings can be so sarcastic, it is almost a fault. I get along with all of them though.

As for my two boys, they love to fight and their personalities could not be more different, but there are moments that you can tell they love each other more than anything.
Emmy said…
That is a good question. I have 5 brothers and sisters and with the age differences at times it was like the oldest three and the youngest three and really by the time it was the youngest three my mom was much more relaxed and calm as a parent so some of our differences can be attributed to that; yet of everyone in my family I am most like my brother who is part of the oldest three. I think everyone just comes how they are and yes society will influence but there are some things that is just how they are.
Christina Lee said…
Good questions! Hmm...one is my BFF, the other drives me batshit crazy--but would fiercely protect ehr. Crazy right?
Macey said…
Oh, girl, my siblings and I have a lot in common but also a LOT of differences. It's almost overwhelming!
My family, I am known for saying, is the model picture of dysfunctional ..... As you well know I am the oldest of 5 And I too have had this very conversation with my mom...First off I am always quick to note "now don't you wish you would've stopped after me?" hee hee and then there is always the question of "Where on earth did "they" come from?" hahaha
I think it's more then DNA..more then habits or mannerisms that are inherited....it's circumstances...life experiences...and that youngest one I think he has some chemical issues haha jk But you know even with all the highs and lows I wouldn't trade a one of them. No matter what I love them they're my Family!
Shell said…
My brothers and I are so different. SO different. But, we always were.

I have no idea how it will be with my kids.
Liz Mays said…
My two kids are totally different from each other, but they do share the same sense of humor completely!

My sibs and I are the same way too, now that I think about it.
Nicole said…
hahaha I didn't turn out like any of my siblings... b/c oh wait, I don't have any ;). But my husband and his sister are similar in some things but way different too. There is 5 years age difference there... and I think life experiences will do it too.
Amy said…
Hmmm, that is certainly food for thought. My siblings and I are all pretty darn different, but we do have a lot of the same characteristics. We are all pretty loud and we share a sense of humor. And we are awfully opinionated. I have never really wondered about my kids. Probably because they are so young, but now... I wonder....
Amy said…
P.S. I love your family portrait! So fun!
mormonhermitmom said…
Now that's the kind of portrait we try to do after sitting for all the formal stuffy portraits!

I think all of us girls are h@*$ to live with during that time of the month. My brother learned early on to lay low. And yet my brother and I are almost the same in our sense of humor (tons of puns) which make the rest of our sibs scratch their heads or roll their eyes.
Anonymous said…
My brother and I are COMPLETELY different. But he is 11 years older than I am so I'm sure that plays a big part in it.
Mamarazzi said…
love this question. i have 2 brothers and 2 sisters. growing up our family was all about the laugh. tell the joke or be the joke...sounds like we all sat around making fun of each other but it was all in good fun. we are all super close still and Sunday family dinners happen as often as possible. not easy to do with one brother living in Colorado and a sister in Arkansas...but we dial them in for the party.

i also talk to all of them everyday...if not by phone or in person then via Facebook or our blogs.

i love my family.
CB said…
My brothers and i are alot alike - we think the same and laugh alot. I am glad because I have no sisters. I've got some good brothers.
My own children however have the same values and ideals but are definately very different -some are so serious and some don't have a care in the world, etc...I really believe in the birth order theories. Did a post on it awhile back but I think where you fall in a family can make a difference.
Linda Medrano said…
I love the photo! It's hysterical!

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