One of those big life secrets

Earlier this week, I had lunch with a friend. We mostly have a working relationship, but we recently decided to try a new restaurant in town together. The place was closed on the day we could both go -- so we ended up at one of the Mexican places nearby. She, I think I'll call her Red, told me a bit about her child hood -- and except for that whole animal in a cage part, it was eerily similar to many of my early life experiences. Her father was a scientist - and I, of course had the influences of the grad student. Her father can't understand why she went into behavioral sciences rather than pure sciences and I suspect that the grad student thinks the same of me.

But, Red told this lovely story about several experiences in her early childhood that influence her to this day. She said that although her father was a scientist by training, what impressed her the most was his generous nature. She explained that during her upbringing, her family accepted into their home 4 of her friends who needed a home for an extended period of time. She said there was never any discussion about "can we afford it?" or "what about me?" -- she said the first time it happened, the call came in the middle of the night - and there was no hesitation in their jumping to the aid of someone in need.

This made me think -- perhaps, humans become what they have seen rather than what their parents tell them. The grad student has two children of his own. Both have become artists. I know that the grad student worked hard to expose them to art and culture -- I wonder if those excursions were more of an influence than the grad student knew?

Perhaps human parents who fret about convincing their children to become doctors or lawyers or join the family business ought to involve their children more -- and let their children see that they love what they do. Thinking about this now, I wonder if children who see their parents hating their jobs or leading unhappy lives as a result of their work - if this is a greater influence than any begging or pleading.

On a totally unrelated note -- notice -- new links!