Who has a bigger influence on your life - your mother or father?

[YourPoisedUmberCrab]

I’ve been thinking about how much our parents shape us, in ways we might not even realise. For some, it’s the lessons they were taught by one parent that stand out, while for others, it’s their relationship with both parents that has a lasting impact.

Do you feel like one parent has had a stronger influence on who you are today? Or do you think it’s more balanced?

Both equally. My father on my career, my mother on my personality and parenting.

Father

My father lived over 20 years longer than my mother !

Mother. I have the same hobbies, political views, similar friends (obviously at different ages) and my job is the same one my mother did!

I’m basically her reborn, only with different coloured hair.

My father died from a sudden heart attack when I was ten years old. He was ferociously clever, short tempered and loved fast, expensive cars.
My mother was placatory, had a brilliant sense of humour, had lots of friends and was also a lover of fast cars.
I think that I have slightly. more of my father's temperament, fortunately modified by my mother's sense of humour and love of our local baker's eclairs!

The lack of father from age 7 onwards had a huge impact on me and shaped a lot of my life and how I conducted relationships and trusted people.

My mother, as the parent left looking after me obviously was my primary influence for many years. I am absolutely nothing like her, almost every facet of my personality and beliefs are different if not the polar opposite of her, but she has clearly shaped who I am, for better or worse.

So for me my mother had a bigger influence on my life, however maybe if asked in my early years I would have thought it was more equally balanced.

I do wonder how much of who I am was in built and how much was a reaction to the people and situations around me.

Neither, I hope. I’ve always strived to be nothing like them. Though I do have my Dad’s enormous feet.