Who has had the most influence on your life?

[Micca]

John Lennon

 

[fabumouse]

Easily my DH.

He's seen me at my worst and (sorry guys!) during childbirth and yet looks at me with the same adoration he did when we were first married 15 years ago.

He's the smartest person and hardest worker I've ever met and will give up the few precious hours of sleep he gets on the weekends in order to play on the X-Box with our DD. He's wonderful!

 

[beckmrk04]

My mom. She taught me to be independent and strong and to stand up for people.

But, as many positives that I got from my mom, I also got negatives. She could never be without a man, even if he wasn't a great one. She squanders money and then wonders why we were always poor. She MUST be the center of attention. And her temper is the most atrocious thing about her- when confronted with it when I was younger, I always swore to myself that I would NEVER talk to people I loved, especially my spouse and children, the way my mom sometimes "talked" to us.

But, yeah- no denying that she has had the most impact and biggest influence on my life. I learned much of what to do and what not to do from my mom.

 

[mickeymousemom]

John Lennon

Also a wonderful influence in my life, but not at the top...

That would be my maternal grandparents. They taught me to be accepting, to be tolerant and not judgmental. I'm certainly not perfect where that's concerned but I do my best. They were simple people who led a simple life and I learned from them that a simple life is the best. My grandma would feed me more food than I could handle, take care of me when I was sick, wrap an extra blanket around me even when I wasn't cold, and make sure I had a bowl of ice cream with her when I stayed all night. My grandpa made sure I knew that it was okay to make mistakes as long as I learned from them...he brought me home all the stuff the kids left at school before summer break when he supplemented his farming income as a janitor. My dad was never around and my mom is a good person, BUT it was my grandparents who made me feel accepted and loved no matter what and taught me to treat others the same. I've never known any two people to this day who had faith and love like they did.

 

[Stacey2grls]

This may sound somewhat strange, but my mothers misstreatment of me and my other siblings shaped me into the person I am today. Everytime my mother treated me in a bad way, or showed very irresponsible behavior, I made a mental note to myself, even as a child to lead a very different life. Oddly enough, it worked. I am not saying I am the greatest person or mom, but I try everyday to do the best job that I can. So, out of that negative experience, eventually became a very positive experience.

 

[beckmrk04]

This may sound somewhat strange, but my mothers misstreatment of me and my other siblings shaped me into the person I am today. Everytime my mother treated me in a bad way, or showed very irresponsible behavior, I made a mental note to myself, even as a child to lead a very different life. Oddly enough, it worked. I am not saying I am the greatest person or mom, but I try everyday to do the best job that I can. So, out of that negative experience, eventually became a very positive experience.

Doesn't sound strange to me at all. I know just what you mean.

 

[minnieandmickeymouse]

In a negative way my mother. She didn't want me and gave me to my father at age 6, they had devorsed when I was 5. So I grew up feeling like I was no good because my own mother didn't want me. I hated her, and pretended (as a child and told my friends) that my mother was dead. I have no idea what it's like to have a mother.
I am so glad that my 4 children have both a mother and father. And I wonder what it feels like to them when I hug them and tell them how much I love them.

 

[MinnieM3]

Well DH for one.... very positive!

And I feel kinda bad for not saying my parents or other relative, but not for me. The most influential people in my life were a priest and a nun... Father Kelly and Sister Charlotte.

Father Kelly was our priest during my growing up, formative years and on through adulthood. He was the most perfect person I have ever known. He was kind, loving, non-judgmental, gentle, happy, charismatic, holy, and good. He made me believe that God exists as a loving God (this can be rare in the Catholic faith ). He was the best example I have ever seen of Christ and His love on earth.

Sister Charlotte was my 3rd grade teacher and then my school principal. She was firm but fair. She believed in me and my abilities. She trusted me and had faith in me. She was kind and giving and loving, but in a "nun" kind of way..... no super sugary sweet stuff here, but love nonetheless. She fostered my love of school and learning and is probably the reason I am a teacher today.

Beth

 

[smilingmouse]

My mom was the greatest positive in my life, followed closely by a former teacher who has become like a second mother to me.

My father had the greatest negative influence--he taught me what I did not want to become

 

[BrerLizzie]

i hate to not say a family member, but right now it's one of my teachers. she's helped me out with a lot of things. i was really bad with grades and homework, but in her class i started to shape up. she was probably the first person who knew i had a brain didn't let me get away with not using it. she's really great to talk to, too.

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

Linda Duncan: My HS newspaper advisor. She made me editor-in-chief of my HS newspaper when I was a SOPHOMORE and believed in me even when the rest of the staff (i.e. JRs and SRs) were mad. I'm managing editor of a national publication because of her.

My Mom and my Nanny, Brenda: Mom often asks, "Is it nature, or is it nuture?" when my brother and I exhibit quirks. My dad was away on business M-F during our childhood, and Brenda, a college student, was there when my Mom was at work. I remember her yanking my hair into pigtails so hard it made my eyes slant before the bus came (I pulled them out before I reached the school door), beating the crap outta me when I called my brother a dirty name and buying me by first share of Disney stock as a college graduation present. Who was with me during DD's delivery? Both of these amazing women (who are now best of friends). I'm a better person, a better wife and a better daughter to BOTH of them, because of them.

 

[TexasCourt]

Without a doubt, my family (extremely positive influence), and more specifically, my momma and aunt.

 

[Fionasmommy]

My mom, closely followed by my little girl.

 

[PaulaSB12]

My mother because she got me reading when my school where using the Ita method and where happy to leave me unable to read. I also was born without binocular vision and 80% of people like that lose the sight in one eye by the time they are 30 and I still have both eyes working fine. She also believed in me and wasn't suprised when I found out in my late 20's that I am slightly dislexic.