Interview with parents!

I don't know how many times I laughed during this conversation, but it was great to hear my parents' responses to some of these questions. When I asked them about what kind of expectations that had for me when I was born, my mom was most worried about carrying me to term because she had had a miscarriage the last time, and both parents were hoping for a healthy baby even though the prenatal test showed I was at risk. Also since they had had two boys before my my dad was expecting it to be much different to raise a girl and they had painted my room and gotten a pink carpet. My dad also expected to be able to walk me down the aisle at my wedding. My mom also had expectations of shopping with me because after having two boys, she was excited to shop for clothes for me and with me. The lessons, values and ideas they tried hardest to impart on me were faith, prayer, being a good sister, to be a caring person and a good listener, to be my own person and not just follow what everyone else does or says, and to work hard for the things I want. The traditions they said that were most important that I keep are going to Green Bay and celebrating holidays and birthdays with the whole family. We also have a nativity play with all of the family and the newest baby would play Jesus, or a baby doll if there were too old. They also want me to still go to the cottage with them and have family time and vacation with my parents and with my own family. When I was two years old, that was when my parents said that they struggled disciplining me, because I went through my "terrible twos" and would make the "Rachel" face, but after that I was pretty compliant. The habits and parts of my personality that my parents recognized as their own were my habit of whistling which comes from my mom and her dad, and that I'm a good listener which I get from my mom. I'm also even tempered and a mediator in fights and arguments like my dad. My sense of humor is definitely my moms, I laugh a lot just like her and when we get going, we cant stop. When I asked them what the most surprising thing about raising me was, my dad answered that he was surprised I enjoyed throwing the football around and "guy stuff like that." I was surprised at how concerned they were that I would be healthy because they were so worried after having a miscarriage, so there expectations were more about my health and just being excited to have a girl. I had always talked with my siblings and laughed about the different qualities we share and recognize in each other that are from our parents, but I had never actually asked my parents what qualities of theirs that they recognized in me, so that was a really fun question. I loved that my dad made the comment about me being even-tempered, because I always strive to have his patience, and I was happy that my mom thought I was a good listener, like her, even though I tend to talk a lot. Overall, it was a really great experience, and it was really cool to hear what my parents thought, because they were mostly a lot different than what I had expected!