it's a family affair

as i watched my two daughters galavant through the narrow aisles of the old navy outlet at the promenade mall today (30% off practically everything in the store!), i couldn't help but ponder just how dissimilar my two girls are from one another. the fact is that both kids have been raised in the same household by the same two parents and have attended the same programs and institutions with the same level of love and support surrounding them in almost every aspect of their daily lives. and yet, the two are like night and day. night and day in different time zones, that is. oh well, so much for the nature vs. nurture debate. for instance, my seven-year-old is still somewhat physically awkward for her age while my two-year-old's level of athleticism and co-ordination is highly advanced. meanwhile, seven is highly sociable to the point where she clearly feels more comfortable in the company of others. two, on the other hand, is perfectly content to chill in her room for hours on end playing with her toys and reading her books. seven has always thought of others first, even as a very young child, often helping out her classmates in need. two... well, the jury is still out on that one. and the list goes on and on.

but in retrospect, i suppose i shouldn't be all that surprised by the distinctions that exist between my two daughters. after all, my older brother and i were also raised in the same home by the same mother and father and yet those who are familiar with us have a hard time believing that we originate from the same stock. to begin with, my only sibling has always been extremely tan and buff. me... a tad pale and lanky, some might insinuate. moving on, i am fairly shy and withdrawn. my brother is more genial and extroverted. i was an excellent student back in the day. my brother had other priorities in school. i was somewhat hard-hearted growing up, while my big bro was known to be quite sensitive. our goals are different. our morals are different. our personalities are different. anyhow, you probably get the picture by now. and that's just what i'm willing to share with you.

hey, maybe it all comes down to a question of degrees. degrees of similarity. degrees of difference. degrees.

oh, and the real inspiration for today's post? i ran into my father today at the promenade mall. i haven't seen my father for quite some time now. the old man hasn't changed a bit.

it is what it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YZpbYqOw4o&feature=related

"the family. we were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together." - erma bombeck