Well I turned out okay....right???

I often wonder how Emma is gonna turn out, will she love rollercoasters like me or be leery of the teacups like her father (sorry Bradley but its true ) , will she be a busybody like me or relaxed like daddy..
One thing I am going to try and make sure of.. is that she doesn't end up a spoiled brat. The deal breaker.. of deal breakers for me.. I refuse to have a temper tantrum throwing smart mouth daughter..The kinda child that will turn her nose up at a gift because it's not what she wanted and/or its not "nice" enough for her.. My mother and father did a great job with me and my sister in this department..from as far back as I can remember ..I was told to always act like every present I open is the best thing in the world even if it's a chewed up piece of gum..act like its what we always wanted, because its the thought that counts not the cost or quality of the gift but the thought that went into it.. that person thought of you..even if it was a night shirt that you got EVERY Christmas from the same aunt.. I would react like it was exactly what I always wanted..

Now some people will argue this and say.. well I don't want my kids to lie .. Okay.. so you would rather them throw a temper tantrum in front of their elderly grandmother after they open a sweater she made them by hand with love...just because they didn't want or need another sweater..?? Okay well if that's what you want them by all means..your choice.
I have said time and time again it is YOUR choice how you raise YOUR children ..so my choice is to instill values ...teach manners and that there are consequences for your actions..

Now back to my original question.. How will Emma turn out? Will all these precautions and foolproof plan work? It's hard to say.. Nature Vs. Nurture the big debate. I come from a close knit immediate family..Where Christmases and other holidays were hosted by my grandmother and most , close to all of my mom's side of the family would get together and exchange presents... I come from a childhood of having aunts and uncles being involved in my life even if it were just during the holidays. Now that was my mom's side of the family..My dad's..well that was a completely different situation.. I can't even really remember a time where my dad's family were together at the same time, except for my grandparent's funerals.. sad..yes.. but for my dad..this was normal.. maybe not right.. but it was all he ever knew. Even when my father died..his own brother didn't come to his funeral, What did he do that his brother wouldn't come you ask?..Well nothing..people are just different..I guess. Some people value family and friendships more than others and is this because of their genes..Did /Does my father's family act like this because they were born like this or were they "made" to be like this?

Now with my grandmother deceased...the closeness left with her..Was it my grandmother that kept the family together? Did the family value each other... or did they just do it for my grandmom?..again hard to say..
Can I make sure Emma has what I had? Well to an extent..I can't affect people's free will.
For her baby shower, I can count on one hand how many family members attended..very sad..and I hate to think that Emma will miss out on having what I had. But then again I think back.. Christmases at my grandmom's house.. now it seems that everyone was just doing what my grandmom wanted..after she passed besides her funeral..and my father's funeral..have I seen everyone together again...Nope. So my point being.. why would I want to force people to be involved in my child's life.. well I don't want that for her.
So I am hoping she always appreciates the people that do choose to be in her life and not dwell over the ones who don't. Will she be understanding of this? Well I hope so. The family that she does have loves her very much and I promise her I will provide her with more love than she could even imagine.

Emma with mommy and daddy :)

Will Emma always have the best toys?  Will she always have the latest fashions and latest toys? No.. Will she always be loved , Yes.

So I guess I will have to wait to see what lovely person she becomes..and all I can do is love her and teach her ... and watch her become the beautiful person I already know she is :)

Mommy Loves You Emmy