Grandfathered or Inherited Traits?

A report was released showing that "70% of African-American children and 58% of Hispanic children have little or no swimming ability, compared with 40% of Caucasian children." The study further stated that among low-income families, "many parents wouldn't let kids swim even if lessons were free, a theme that was tested four times in different focus groups," The study, conducted by Richard Irwin, professor of health and sports sciences at the University of Memphis concluded, "Overall, fear trumped financial concerns across all respondent race groups in low-income families."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704717004575268912714114950.html

Growing up in Mississippi every summer my mother would sign my siblings and I up for swimming lessons at the community pool. I don't know if the fact that my father sued the city to build a public pool to ensure that children of all races were afforded the opportunity to swim, her being an educator and recognizing the need to expose us to different experiences (and needing a daily break from us kids) or if she just felt it was her duty as parent was the rational for 5-6 years of swimming lessons. Regardless, I am grateful that she felt it was important to do so.

Almost a decade ago when I lived in Houston my cousin(RIP TMD), her two year old daughter, and I decided one blistering afternoon to eat some ice cream from the freezer. When I asked her whether her preference was vanilla or chocolate, she said "I don't eat vanilla and neither does my daughter." I wasn't a parent then so I was intrigued by this process of determining the likes and dislikes of a little person. I asked her did she buy both vanilla and chocolate ice cream do a "taste test". She stated, "No. I don't buy vanilla, but I know that she doesn't like it." I marveled at her comfort with automatically determining her child's personality instead of letting it evolve through exposure.

As parents do we perpetuate our children's personalities or are they really inherited traits? Are parental practices conditioning based upon their own fears and beliefs, influence or a mixture of both?

My parental philosophy is that I have a duty to expose my children to as much as possible, even things that as an adult I have an aversion to or wasn't exposed to in my life in spite of my fear about the outcome or risk of participation. I feel that in doing such my children will know that the "sky is the limit" and they will reach their maximum potential.

Adjusting Your Focus

I love to capture life's moments on film. It does not require an auspicious occasion: family time, my children's cherubic faces, beautiful weather or information I can't write down or desire to take the time to remember (thanks JMR!). With the convenience of technology whether camera, video recorder, or mobile device, you don't have to miss an opportunity to memorialize your life.

Have you ever experienced a situation where you are determined to take a particular picture but from your vantage point you can't quite get the shot in focus? You zoom in as close as you possibly can, but still have to get up, move in closer, and adjust for you to satisfactorily get the shot? I think this may be applicable to our lives. Although we yearn for achievement sometimes we have to revisit, evaluate and adjust our vision to see it come to fruition.

This is not a comfortable journey. Sometimes when you get up and move in closer while adjusting you may-- albeit temporarily-- "obstruct someone else's vision." Yes, it may be uncomfortable to those within your immediate periphery "to see" when you are focused. But the reality is that the difficulty should be temporary, the people that really support you will either give you that space or be patient with you while you are adjusting to capture the moment.

Another thing about operating "life's camera" is that your view is through a single lens. Experience has taught me that you may find like minded individuals that understand the importance of a "great picture" and want to partner with you on your journey. But ultimately you push the button to capture the moment. It may be unrealistic to have the expectation of sharing your period of adjustment because decisions regarding your direction and achievement are ultimately up to YOU. This doesn't mean that people won't/don't give you support. I think the reality of the situation is that tasks are extremely subjective, and even with them supporting you with all that they have, the impetus is yours alone.

I haven't posted in ages and events and seasons have occurred. I have a list of things I want to be accomplished and this entry is a part of "adjusting my focus". Evaluate and discern if your focus needs adjustment. Please share your reflections and revelations.