There has been some debate for many years about which has more influence on us, nature or nurture. Nature being the biological makeup of a person and nurture the physical world that influences nature.
As I pondered this anomaly, I was thinking about my own family, particularly my grandchildren. We have seven grandsons born to our children. They are all as different as night and day as they are “natured” by three very different people.
Our oldest child is our “thinker” and loved going to school and continued his education at Ole Miss for more years than he needed. He loves to play games on television and ride motorcycles. His two boys, one also stayed in college a few years over the four-year limit, and he has the same disposition and loves the same things.
I can see nature in this precedent, but the other son wanted nothing to do with higher education. I see nurture here as he sees others success in his family with no college and they are successful.
There’s the middle son. College degree, very athletic, entrepreneur, outgoing personality and raising two sons who are also much the same except for the youngest who seems to be an introvert. Nature or nurture?
There’s my girl, certainly not sports-minded in the least but somewhat of a vivacious person. Her boys are both so different. One is very physical, gym every day, outside vocation and never still. The other is very laid-back and easygoing. The jury is still out on our little girl. Again, nature and nurture.
If I try to pull in the two possibilities from the earlier generation, I can see nature looming closely. My husband played football, always been an outside person, and always thinking about a new adventure. “The mama,” not so much. I only run if Sasquatch is after me. I’d rather be inside cooking, reading a book or writing as opposed to any type of physical activity. You can see my offspring get their qualities from both of us, so I see nature once again.
I believe nurture makes more of an impact on our children than nature. One example I can call to attention is the fact that my husband was never into much hunting, so his children were never subjected to this venture, but we have two grandsons who have been reared for the past several years in the country and “the hunt” of anything wild has become second nature to them. I see nurture taking over here — the country lifestyle, access to hunting lands, and around others who thrive on this sport.
What do you think? Nature or nurture? I can. without a doubt in my mind. tell you I am both because I love to, in my nature, be lackadaisical and, in my nurture, I enjoy it so much!
Most of the time after a meal for just the two of us we have some leftovers, so I put them into a bowl all together and save them in the fridge. Then on a night when I need an extra side, I pull them out and make my mishmash.
Keep in mind all these I make from leftovers or you could start fresh.
1 cup of butterbeans
1 cup of corn
1 large, diced onion
1 T. garlic powder
¼ cup chopped bell pepper
1 can of medium Rotel
Brown the onion and bell pepper, add remaining ingredients and simmer for about 30 minutes. Serve with a meat and hot cornbread. Delicious!
