Love Thursday: Nature and Nurture

I wrote an attempted humorous post about Nature vs. Nurture with this picture on my personal adoption blog. I continue to look at this picture daily, taken at our visit last month. I’m amused because it’s funny in itself. (Have you ever tried to make the face? Go ahead. I won’t laugh.) But the more I stare at it, the more I’m overcome with love.

I see a lot of myself in my daughter. In her eyes, as she inherited my eye shape, and in other certain aspects of her face, I can literally see myself. Beyond the physical characteristics, I’m present in her being as well. This funny facial expression is one simple and visible example. There are others, that are less obvious to the general public, unless you know me quite well.

I apologize to D, regularly, for her stubborn streak but it also makes me smile to hear stories that bring back specific memories of my own struggles in maintaining that streak. Do I think that, perhaps, her own stubborn everyday Mom helps that streak along, as she’s also quite stubborn? Oh, yes. (Remember, I chose J & D because of the many similarities we share. D’s stubborn and determined personality was one of those things that drew me to them as a family.)

When she sits in the back of the car and sings her little heart out to just about anything on the radio, or even the songs in her head, I’m silently thrilled. For those who don’t know, I was a double major in vocal performance and still regularly sing solos and with our church choir. Music was and continues to be a big part of my life. Do I know that J & D are also nurturing that inborn love of music because of their mutual love of the stuff as well? Definitely. She’s surrounded by music almost all of the time. That’s good stuff to me!

When she’s visiting at my house and falls in love with pierogies, a delicious Polish food, am I pleased? Yes. Was I even more pleased when I visited their house the next time and saw pierogies in their freezer? Definitely.

In our specific case, it’s not really a case of nature versus nurture. It’s a case of nature and nuture. There are some definite differences, such as in the accent she is forming, but they are to be expected and celebrated all the same. I love the little girl my daughter has grown to be and I love the woman that she will continue to grow into, differences, samenesses and all.

I love my daughter, even when she makes hilarious faces. Or, maybe especially because she makes hilarious faces.

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For more Love Thursday, read:

1. Love Thursday: Daddy and Daughter.

2. Love Thursday.

3. Love Thursday: When I’m Just Interrupting.

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Photo Credit: ©2007 Jenna Hatfield.

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