My husband Tom and I have three kids--all raised under the same roof, with the same rules, and taught the same values. So how did they all get such completely different personalities?

Leia is our oldest, 26 years old, and our only daughter. She's married with two little boys, and is completely immersed in her role and wife and mom--she loves it. She isn't as interested in the outside world around her, i.e. politics, world affairs, etc, as her brothers, but she does have her own opinions about it all! She's very outgoing, with a bubbly personality, and is a joy to be around. But...when she gets mad, watch out--the fireworks start!

When she was a teen, that temper showed up more often than not, and usually it was directed towards me, lol. I only put up with so much, then she'd be banished to her room to cool off--I can only imagine what other angry words were silently directed towards me, as she stomped up the stairs...But, with age came wisdom--that maybe she REALLY didn't know it all, and Mom had made a few valid points along the way. We're really close now, and enjoy being together. We're really proud of the woman she has become.

Dustin(aka Deece on HubPages, although I can't bring myself to call him that, lol) is who we lovingly refer to as our "redneck" son--he's 25 years old, and takes life one day at a time, and very seldom worries about tomorrow. He loves guns, cars, and computers, and can talk for hours about any of them. He's adventurous and will try just about anything--he's bungee-jumped, rapelled off cliffs, drove cars and motorcycles at insanely high rates of speed, and who knows what else. Needless to say, he caused us many anxious moments in the past, lol.

But Dustin has a heart of gold, and is fiercely loyal to his family--if there is trouble, he will be the first one there to help everytime. He's a loving son who goes out of his way to do whatever we may need him to do, and never complains. Dustin is quick to laugh, and slow to anger--he has this amazing ability to let things slide off his back like water. He has a little daughter whom he adores, and whenever he has visitation, he's completely devoted to her wants and needs, and never asks for help with her.

Larkin is 20, going on 40. He just finished his first year of college, and is very interested in, and knowledgable about, the environment, politics, and history. He surprises everyone who first meets him by his intelligence--he's smart way beyond his years, and has lofty ambitions for his future.

Larkin is a homebody, perfectly content to spend hours at home, rather than being out with friends, and doing the things most kids his age do. That made him a very easy teenage to raise, lol--we never had to worry what he was doing...he was, and still is, very cautious about everything--the complete opposite of his older brother! He never loses his temper, or raises his voice, but he always manages to get his point across anyway. He has a quick wit, and is constantly cracking us up with his one-liners...

Also, he's very devoted to his family, and tries so hard to be good to us, and he is, just like his brother and sister.

 

These differences do cause tensions between them at times, where they have looked at each other like they were thinking "How can we be related?". Tom and I have had many conversations with all of them, trying to explain that, despite their differences, they are family, and families need to stick together.

It is getting better, though...maybe because they finally have realized that we love all three of them equally, despite--and because of--their differences, and maybe they should, too.

I can't imagine how they all turned out so different, in so many ways, but they did...and I have to admit that it makes a pretty interesting life at times for Tom and I!!!