by Latasha Cook

Created on: July 17, 2009   Last Updated: July 18, 2009

Children learn everything from their parents in early childhood. Parents are the biggest influence. Because of that fact it is easy to say yes to parents being responsible for how their children act as adults. We learn from our parents morals, values, respect, religion, manners, responsibility, etc. Not only do they communicate verbally, children learn from watching their parents. Ultimately they set the examples.

In reading the question "Are parents responsible for how their children act as adults?" I thought two things: A child can grow and become an adult living a life the same way they were raised or because of the way they were raised, they can decide to do the exact opposite of what they saw or learned. Some of my closest friends and relatives have grown to become and do exactly what they experienced their parents doing. I'm sad to say that it is not more on the positive side but, where I'm from, a lot of the parents were alcoholics, addicts, and criminals. My friends have become just that. I have to believe that had their parents taught or showed them a better way of living they would be well off. In my neighborhood most parents didn't push the value of education. Perhaps it's because their parents didn't. Growing up, most of us endured poverty and lack of opportunities. Because our parents experienced the same things. I think that it is a cycle that viciously trickled down to generation after generation.

My household was no different. And I still say that my mother is definitely responsible for the way I carry myself today. While I decided not to carry on the "tradition" of being and having nothing, it was because of my parents that I made that decision. As individual we have choices but the influence of family is so great, sometimes making better choices can be challenging. I watched my mother struggle with addictions. I watched her struggle as a single parent. I watched her take small paying jobs that were limited due to her lack of education. I watched all these things. She is definitely responsible for me wanting a different life because the examples she set, I was determined not to be the same way. I think everything happens for a reason. If the events of my life would have been different I know I would be different today. Maybe I had to experience such things to be the person I am today.

Aside from all the negative experiences I witnessed, my mother is also responsible for the manners I have today. Raised in South Carolina and being Baptist, early on as a child being respectful was just as important as breathing. I carried that into adulthood the same way I carry my table manners and saying thank you when some one gives me something or holds a door open for me. When walking into a room I speak to its occupants because that's what I was taught as a child. Sure their are others who are responsible for who I am today as an adult, but my first influences came from my mother. I was able to watch her, see her pain, and be different. But I was also able to take the good and apply in my adult hood. I can honestly say she is 100% responsible for the person I have come to be today.

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