A - Z 2021: The Apple doesn't fall far from the Tree



Welcome to Season 2021 of the annual A - Z Blogging Challenge.

This is my 7th time to participate. As announced in my reveal post, I am going to talk about sayings, phrases, idioms and quotes.

Today's post is A is for

The Apple doesn’t fall far from the Tree

While it says something about gravity and literal tree roots, it couldn’t be truer for figurative speech. 


You don’t even have to go as far as to read about the studies that have been conducted. You know, twins who were separated at birth and reunited as grown-ups who find out they have a very similar path? Both studied law and got married only a month apart from each other to partners who look very much alike?


Just look in the mirror and think of your own parents or kids. You’ll find a lot of stuff, whether you like it or not, especially as you grow older, I find.


A certain Meme comes to mind:




A few weeks ago my son Colin had his first “performance review” at Middle School. His teacher was very happy not only about his attendance and results in class, but more importantly his role within the group of kids. 


“You’re very mature for your age (he’s literally the youngest of them all) and you’re on eye’s height with everybody, you treat them with respect and don’t take yourself too seriously. You have the gift of being able to integrate different characters, that’s really admirable.”


When we left the room, we were a bit speechless. Obviously as parents you like to think your kid is so smart and wonderful, but you also know you’re biased. 


So if a teacher not only confirms your perception, but actually tops it, you're flattered.


"Like Father, like Son" my husband said jokingly. "I liked to take care of my classmates as well when I was his age!" 


Haha, no, you didn't. You sort of hated them and only hung out with your neighbours' boy, who, until to this day, is your best buddy and Colin's Godfather, so if anything this stands for "Quality before Quantity"!!


"Right, In that case it's like Mother, like Son" he admitted.


I wouldn't go that far, but yes, I did things to bind my classmates together, but I didn't look at it that way back then. I just liked to organize parties and outings. Since then I have put together more than a handful reunions, and it's always so nice to see everybody. 


Colin's teacher is not the only one to identify and acknowledge his traits. So do his hockey coaches. They like to assign the captain role to him because he's earned their and his teammates' trust and seems to be a positive role model for his peers.




It makes me proud to hear my boy is a balanced guy who takes care of people. Obviously good grades will be helpful on his career journey, but leadership and decency will take him even further.


How about you? Any qualities you inherited from your parents and / or passed on to your children? Let me know in the comments below.


Tomorrow I'll talk about crossing Bridges - hope you'll be there so we can do it together!

 


Comments

  1. Overthinking I guess, I got from my mother ha ha!! But the Never-say-Die attitude also I got from her I think!

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  2. Fun A to Z! Love the t shirt lol and how proud you must be of Colin!

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  3. It comes as no surprise that Colin has grown up so well. We watched him grow on these pages, surrounded by love, support, and attention to curiosity.

    I wish I could say I inherited grilling skills from my dad. Or tortilla-making skills from my mom. I've noticed that my oldest daughter loves a good cheeseburger, my middle daughter loves a good taco, and my youngest loves a good pizza. Inherited traits, for sure.

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  4. Haha. Check off "Apple" on the A-Z Scavenger hunt.

    I will never forget the day I got irritated with a student and my Dad's "mad" voice came out of my mouth. I was so mortified!
    And why do I keep seeing my Mom in the mirror?

    This year, I'm posting:
    Art work: https://www.anne-m-bray.com/blog
    and
    Shoes: https://repeatsamb.blogspot.com/search/label/A-Z%202021

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  5. It's funny how sometimes parents can be surprised to hear how great their kids are, when at home they are little terrors! They really do know how to behave!

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  6. None of us wants to admit it, but we are more like our parents than we think but sometimes I like to pretend I was adopted.

    Have a lovely day.

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  7. Oh, sweet colin, of course you are very proud of him!
    I have some similaritudes with my parents, and my grand-parents. It's always fun to point it out ;)

    Quilting Patchwork & Appliqué - A = Abat-jour/Lampshade

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  8. Love your theme - Ken and I often say to each other, where did that saying come from. The T-shirt really made me laugh as every now and then when he's feeling brave, Ken will tell me that I sound just like my mum.

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  9. Nice start! Great job Colin (and parents for being role models). I have seen my husband's qualities of empathy and compassion in our kids a lot.

    Janet’s Smiles

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  10. we usually don't like to admit it but we are often very much like our parents. the things that aggravate us about them are probably what others find aggravating about us, lol.

    Joy at www.thejoyousliving.com

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  11. Love this post! Your son sounds remarkable — a tribute to the family “trees,” you and your husband! If you don’t have your full list of sayings yet, my grandmother had one I always wondered about: “We’re off like a herd of turtles.” Would love to know the origins of that expression :-)

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  12. Checking off the apple for sure on the scavenger hunt.. and kudos to all of you.. your son is certainly someone taking after wonderful parents it looks like...
    And that t-shirt with the meme.. I know how it feels exactly :)
    My A Post - Alliteration: Alluring, Annoying Or Alright?

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  13. How nice to hear such wonderful things from the teacher. While there may be some impact of the "apple and tree", there is also that lovely, never ending thing called parenting. Clearly you're doing it right! Looking forward to your posts and catching up on another A to Z. Weekends In Maine

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  14. My kids think I need that t-shirt. I think they need it. ;)
    So glad I found your blog!

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  15. I confess, that I had no idea last year, when I saw the title of your blog, that it would become one of my favourites, I loved Swissair and I can see I am going to love this year's theme too.
    Plus you have made us a gift of the first Scavenger Hunt item - Go Part Time Hockey Mom!

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  16. Its disturbing, that first moment as a parent when you realise you sound exactly like your mum or dad! Then you realise maybe they had been right all along!! ;-)

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  17. The saying is true. I not only see characteristics and traits of my husband in my each of my children but mannerisms of close family members. It's almost spooky sometimes because it's like seeing that person walking in a different skin. I love that t-shirt. I often hear my mother coming out, too. lol

    Thanks for visiting and checking out my Looney Tunes A-Z Art Sketch for day 1 of ACME Mail Order Catalog

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  18. Oh yeah, I relate to that shirt!

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  19. It was necessary to actually "outgrow" one of my mother's traits: worrying. We eventually started saying, "No, I'm not worried, that's Mom's job."

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